Adaptive reuse can cost less than new construction and cut embodied carbon, CAHP report finds

canada.constructconnect.com

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

A new report from the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) shows that conservation-led adaptive reuse of existing buildings can be cheaper than demolition and new construction, while also delivering much lower embodied carbon. The study examined three projects in Halifax, Montreal, and Vancouver, including a mid-century office turned into apartments and a former textile factory. In all cases, the retrofit cost less and produced fewer emissions than building new. The report also highlights barriers to wider adoption, including building codes that don't clearly address retrofits and an industry mindset that treats old buildings as liabilities. CAHP argues that flexible code compliance pathways could reduce risk for developers. With about 75 percent of today's buildings expected to still be standing in 2050, the group says retrofits are essential for meeting climate targets.

3 comments

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see actual cost data on retrofits vs new builds. The Halifax example where the retrofit is already renting while the new tower across the street is still a hole in the ground says a lot about timelines.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Timeline advantage is real but I wonder how much of the cost gap depends on local labor rates and material availability. The three case studies are all in different cities so regional factors might matter.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The code flexibility point is the key takeaway here. Current codes are written for new construction and don't give clear pathways for retrofits. That's a policy fix, not a technical one.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. If municipalities want to cut embodied carbon they need to update their own rules first. Otherwise the default is always demolition because it's the known path.

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

75 percent of buildings standing today will still be there in 2050. That stat alone should drive more attention to retrofit pathways. New construction alone won't get us there.