When it comes to the adaptive reuse of churches, especially those with historic easements, one thing really matters: windows. Just ask architect Jai Singh Khalsa, whose firm has been repurposing churches and other institutional buildings since 1980. “We're currently doing a number of buildings that belong to the archdiocese [of Boston],” says Khalsa. “Every church is a little different. The window pattern in old Catholic churches isn't as good for conversion. You need to put more holes in the building.”
How do you design a state-of-the-art student apartment building located just a few hundred yards from the Rotunda of the University of Virginia, which was executed by none other than Thomas Jefferson? Very carefully.
WHY IT WORKED: A whiz-bang marketing campaign targeted toward young urban professionals helped reel in buyers at this development, part of Atlanta's hot Atlantic Station, a live/work/play community in the heart of midtown.
WHY IT WORKED: Size definitely matters, especially in the world of high-end luxury real estate. Lots at Sanctuary average 22,000 square feet; floor plans, some featuring as many as five bedrooms and a four-car garage, top out at a whopping 5,599 square feet.
WHY IT WORKED: Even in uncertain markets, homes that are well-located, well-designed, and well-priced continue to sell. At Knightsbridge Gate, Winnick Homes came up with plans that work well on smaller lots, which allowed the builder to charge less than the going rate for new construction.
