Novos: Innovation & Renewal

Abstract

This book covers the works done for a Master's in Architecture Final Project at Texas A&M University. The theme of the project is adaptive reuse. Adaptive reuse is the effort to rejuvenate an older building to fit a new purpose while maintaining the historic design. The medium for adaptive reuse is the Packard Automotive Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Built in the 1900s the car factory has since been abandoned and left to rot. I propose that a 200,000 square foot portion of the facility is transformed into a Career Technical Education (CTE) high school focused on automotive engineering. CTE is intended to give high school students real job experience in the field covered by the schools CTE program. Being an automotive CTE program students will learn about automotive engineering, collision repair, and design. All while learning a typical high school curriculum. Architecturally the project aims to introduce new moments into the building while maintaining a balance with the existing structure. These moments respect the original architect's design goals while expanding on them to fit the needs of the new program. These moments range from spatial to structural elements in an attempt to balance between history and contemporary design.