Adaptive Process for Building Reuse

An increasing number of buildings that have been adapted to new uses can be found around the world. A closed school may be converted into condominiums. An old factory may become a museum. This adaptive process to reuse buildings that have outlived their original purpose while retaining their historic features and charm is something we have seen done successfully in St. Paul time and again.

In 2021 Fairview Health Services announced that St. Joseph's Hospital, the state's oldest hospital which had ceased general inpatient services and was used for several months as a stand-alone COVID-19 treatment center, would be converted and repurposed into a center for community wellness and health equity. Construction began in January of 2022, and today many groups call the grounds home.

This month following our annual meeting business, Trent Langness,  Sr. Director of Operations for the Wellness Hub and Bethesda, will share the process that went into repurposing the hospital. He will discuss construction necessary to bring in new services, decanting of old areas, and the exploration of partnerships for the sale of portions of the campus.