From Time Capsule to Trendsetter: The Art & Business of Adaptive Reuse

Italian Renaissance Revival meets high camp in an apartment building transformed into a boutique hotel. A 19th-century armory reimagined as a vibrant community hub. A former tobacco warehouse reborn as a striking cultural venue. Today’s most compelling spaces don’t just preserve history—they remix it. Designers and developers are embracing the past with creativity, layering unexpected influences to craft places rich with stories and meaning.

What’s driving this movement? The desire for depth and authenticity in design, the commercial power of social media to amplify niche aesthetics, and the evolving economics of adaptive reuse.

Join us for a lively discussion on how historic spaces become more than relics—they become cultural statements, social media darlings, and, ultimately, great business.

Featuring:

·  Xavier Donnelly – Creative Director, Ash Hotels

·  Scott Demel – Partner, Marvel Architects

·  Jordan Barr – Principal, DBI

From creative vision to financing and execution, we’ll break down how old buildings get new lives—and why they’re more relevant than ever.