Preserving History, Designing the Future - Aimee Sanborn - Defining Hospitality

Embrace challenges and view constraints as opportunities to innovate. Adaptive reuse projects are known for their "gremlins" and challenges, but these major challenges can lead to an innovative, celebrated solution

Always consider the end-user's experience first. In hospitality design, it's about making people feel connected to a place, its story, and a bespoke experience. creating designated lobbies and preventing cross-circulation between different uses, such as luxury condos and the public domain, to enhance the resident's experience.

During economic downturns or challenging times, focus on maintaining quality, supporting your team, and staying optimistic. Despite the hospitality design world experiencing a recession with fewer projects since COVID-19, remaining true to yourself

When working on historic buildings, focus on creating a narrative that connects people to the place and its past. This branding and storytelling can be carried throughout the project, from the hotel component to other uses within a vertically integrated mixed-use development.

A key to successful adaptive reuse is "purposeful preservation," which involves celebrating a building's history and unique characteristics while thoughtfully adapting it for new uses. This includes bringing new life to spaces in a way that feels fresh and welcoming.

Leverage historic tax credits, as they can be a significant financial driver for adaptive reuse projects.

Preserving History, Designing the Future - Aimee Sanborn - Defining Hospitality - Episode #210