Chapman Taylor showcases leadership in retrofit, adaptive reuse and regeneration

As the built environment faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon, respond to evolving market demands, and deliver long-term value, Chapman Taylor continues to advance our expertise in retrofit, adaptive reuse, and regeneration, reimagining existing buildings as catalysts for sustainable growth.

As the built environment faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon, respond to evolving market demands, and deliver long-term value, Chapman Taylor continues to advance our expertise in retrofit, adaptive reuse, and regeneration, reimagining existing buildings as catalysts for sustainable growth.

With around 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already standing, the focus of the property industry is shifting from what we build next to how we intelligently adapt what already exists. At Chapman Taylor, our approach is rooted in unlocking the latent potential of underperforming assets, balancing design ambition, technical performance, and commercial viability to create resilient, future-ready places.

From large-scale urban regeneration to targeted building refurbishments, we work across a range of project scales to deliver meaningful transformation. At Kampus in Manchester, a former university site has been reimagined into a vibrant Build-to-Rent neighbourhood delivering 534 homes across new-build and refurbished buildings. The scheme retains and extends a 1960s office tower, repurposes listed warehouse buildings, and introduces a lively mix of independent retail, leisure, and public realm centred around a landscaped garden adjacent to the Rochdale Canal. This layered approach creates a distinctive, community-focused destination rooted in the site’s industrial heritage.

Similarly, the Soapworks masterplan in Salford is set to transform an 8.5-acre former industrial site into a thriving mixed-use community. The £200 million regeneration will deliver 450 new homes, modern workspace including the refurbishment of vacant buildings, and enhanced public realm with improved pedestrian and cycle connections—opening up what was previously a gated commercial site and reconnecting it with the wider city.

Workplace-led retrofit projects also demonstrate the value of retaining and upgrading existing structures. At St George’s House West in Wimbledon, a 10,800 sqm office building is being comprehensively refurbished, replacing a heavy masonry podium with a lighter, more transparent intervention that improves daylight, enhances street-level activation, and delivers a contemporary Grade A workspace. The scheme adopts a sustainability-led strategy, retaining the primary structure to reduce embodied carbon while integrating low-energy systems, solar PVs, and high-quality urban greening.

This approach is echoed at ISOLA in Prague, where a former industrial factory hall is being transformed into 8,000m² of flexible, Class A office space. The design retains the existing structure while introducing new workplace typologies, capitalising on excellent transport connectivity to create a modern, accessible destination.

This approach is echoed at ISOLA in Prague, where a former industrial factory hall is being transformed into 8,000 sqm of flexible, Class A office space. The design retains the existing structure while introducing new workplace typologies, capitalising on excellent transport connectivity to create a modern, accessible destination. At an urban scale, the Grand Harbour masterplan in Malta demonstrates how regeneration can extend beyond individual buildings, shaping a long-term vision for a world-class waterfront that balances heritage conservation with sustainable growth, public realm activation, and improved connectivity.

In Madrid, the refurbishment of Los Cubos reimagines a 1970s office building, retaining its distinctive cubic architectural identity while upgrading 32,000 sqm of workspace to meet contemporary standards. The intervention enhances the building’s performance, introduces a more dynamic façade expression, and repositions the asset as a competitive, future-ready workplace within the city.

As the built environment faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon, respond to evolving market demands, and deliver long-term value, Chapman Taylor continues to advance our expertise in retrofit, adaptive reuse, and regeneration, reimagining existing buildings as catalysts for sustainable growth.

With around 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already standing, the focus of the industry is shifting from what we build next to how we intelligently adapt what already exists. Chapman Taylor’s approach is rooted in unlocking the latent potential of underperforming assets, balancing design ambition, technical performance, and commercial viability to create resilient, future-ready places.

From large-scale urban regeneration to targeted building refurbishments, we work across a range of project scales to deliver meaningful transformation. At Kampus in Manchester, a former university site has been reimagined into a vibrant Build-to-Rent neighbourhood, combining new-build elements with the retention and extension of a 1960s tower and historic warehouses. Similarly, the Soapworks masterplan in Salford is set to revitalise an 8.5-acre site into a mixed-use community, introducing new homes, workspace, and enhanced public connectivity.

Workplace-led retrofit projects also demonstrate the value of retaining and upgrading existing structures. At St George’s House West in Wimbledon, a sustainability-led refurbishment transforms outdated office space into a contemporary Grade A workplace, significantly reducing embodied carbon while improving performance and user experience. Projects such as ISOLA in Prague and Los Cubos in Madrid further illustrate how thoughtful design can breathe new life into ageing buildings, repositioning them for modern occupiers.

Our methodology is underpinned by a clear set of principles: reuse, reimagine, refurbish, reinvent, recycle, reconnect, and regreen. By prioritising the retention of existing structures, integrating nature-based solutions, and strengthening connections between people and place, we design projects that are not only environmentally responsible but also commercially robust and socially meaningful.

Through this growing portfolio of retrofit and regeneration projects, Chapman Taylor continues to demonstrate how existing buildings can be transformed into dynamic, sustainable environments, supporting communities, enhancing value, and shaping the future of our cities.

Read our latest Insight paper: "Retrofit, adaptive reuse and regeneration: How to deliver successful projects" - Click here.