Adaptive Reuse
fjcstudio gives existing buildings new purpose. Our adaptive reuse work retains heritage and existing fabric, introduces new uses and adds contemporary architecture that respects what came before. It brings architecture, interiors and landscape together across former industrial sites, civic buildings, galleries, workplaces and student accommodation.
Retaining existing structure also retains embodied carbon. At SubStation No. 164, a light extension above two heritage buildings contributed to a 24 per cent reduction in embodied carbon, and Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre set a benchmark in sustainable design through the reuse, salvage and recycling of the existing Bankstown Town Hall.
Our projects have received heritage and creative adaptation awards from the Australian Institute of Architects in New South Wales and Tasmania.
SubStation No. 164
A light anti-extension floats above two heritage buildings in Sydney, weaving workplace, retail and event uses through old and new.
Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre
The former Bankstown Town Hall is reused, salvaged and recycled to create a library, theatre and community hub.
Parliament Square
Six refurbished heritage buildings and a new commercial building open the heart of the site to a new public square on Hobart's waterfront.
Our Approach
Understanding Significance
We start by understanding the significance of each place, working with heritage specialists and approval authorities. At the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, new and conservation works follow Burra Charter principles. A clear understanding of significance tells us what must be kept, what can change and where new work belongs.
Fitting New Uses
We match new uses to the character of existing buildings, from a former electricity substation that now holds workplaces and a cultural venue to railway workshops reused as museum galleries. A good fit between use and building reduces intervention, keeps the qualities that make each place distinctive and gives it a lasting future.
Contrast and Complement
New additions are clearly contemporary and lifted above or set back from heritage fabric, so the original buildings remain legible, as at SubStation No. 164 and 111 Castlereagh Street. Old and new are placed in conversation, each strengthening the other, so the history of the place stays easy to read.
Lower Embodied Carbon
Keeping existing structure avoids demolition and retains embodied carbon. We salvage and reuse materials, as at Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre. Adaptive reuse is often the most sustainable option available, extending the life of buildings that already exist while upgrading their energy, comfort and services performance for the decades ahead.
Compliance and Access
We integrate structural, services, fire and accessibility upgrades with minimal impact on significant fabric. At Legion House, a new lift and stair sit outside the building in a curved glass enclosure. Placing new services and circulation carefully keeps heritage interiors intact while meeting current standards for safety and access.
Public Life
Reuse can open sites to the public. At Parliament Square, removing invasive structures created a new public square linking Salamanca Place to Murray Street. Through-site links, laneways and courtyards can draw people into places that were once closed, giving historic buildings a renewed role in the everyday life of the city.
Integrated Disciplines
Architecture, interiors and landscape work together across old and new, from the interiors of Machine Hall to the landscape of Parliament Square. Designing every discipline in one studio keeps the approach to heritage consistent, from the overall strategy to the smallest junction, finish and detail inside and outside each building.
Long-term Custodianship
We design for buildings that will keep changing. Fleming House in Oxford gives two Grade II listed buildings a renewed life after more than 150 years of change. Flexible planning and reversible interventions allow future generations to adapt each building again, continuing its story as needs and uses evolve.
Experience Matrix
| Project | Location | Heritage Fabric | New Use | New Addition | Sustainability | Design Excellence / Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SubStation No. 164 | Sydney, NSW | • | • | • | • | • |
| Machine Hall | Sydney, NSW | • | • | • | ||
| Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre | Bankstown, NSW | • | • | • | ||
| Parliament Square | Hobart, TAS | • | • | • | • | |
| The Mint | Sydney, NSW | • | • | |||
| Newcastle Museum | Newcastle, NSW | • | • | • | • | |
| Legion House | Sydney, NSW | • | • | • | • | |
| 111 Castlereagh Street | Sydney, NSW | • | • | • | ||
| Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery | Hobart, TAS | • | • | • | ||
| Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki | Auckland, NZ | • | • | • | ||
| Fleming House | Oxford, UK | • | • | • | ||
| Cydelia House Student Accommodation | Melbourne, VIC | • | • | • | ||
| Wilam Hall Student Accommodation | Melbourne, VIC | • |
Relevant Awards
Our adaptive reuse projects have been recognised by architecture and heritage awards. Relevant awards include:
| Project | Name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| SubStation No. 164 | Award for Creative Adaptation, Heritage Architecture, 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| SubStation No. 164 | Award for Commercial Architecture, 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| Parliament Square | Roy Sharrington Smith Award for Heritage Architecture, 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (Tasmanian Chapter) |
| Parliament Square | Colin Philp Award for Commercial Architecture, 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (Tasmanian Chapter) |
| Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre | Sustainable Architecture Award, 2015 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| Bankstown Library & Knowledge Centre | Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, 2015 | Australian Institute of Architects (National) |
| Legion House | Heritage, Creative Adaptation, commendation, 2015 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery | Heritage Architecture Award, 2014 | Australian Institute of Architects (Tasmanian Chapter) |
| Newcastle Museum | Public Architecture Award, 2014 | Australian Institute of Architects (Newcastle) |
| Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki | New Zealand Architecture Medal, 2012 | New Zealand Institute of Architects |
| The Mint | Sir John Sulman Medal for Public Architecture, 2005 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| The Mint | Greenway Award for Conservation, 2005 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| The Mint | Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage, 2005 | Australian Institute of Architects (National) |
| Fleming House | Building Conservation Certificate (awarded to Lincoln College), 2021 | Oxford Preservation Trust |
For further information about our adaptive reuse capability, please enquire by email. You can also explore our heritage projects.