Many of SPACE Architects’ projects begin by questioning whether building new is the best solution or whether the existing fabric can be reimagined to serve new purposes. Ron Dearing UTC’s STEAM Studios embodies this principle. Once a 1920s fire station, the building has been carefully adapted into a centre for creative learning that retains its heritage character while meeting modern educational needs. By renewing a vacant structure rather than replacing it, the project demonstrates how thoughtful retrofit can reduce embodied carbon, conserve resources, and celebrate the history already present within our built environment.

This principle extends across many SPACE projects where re-use and renewal take precedence over replacement. At the Farrell Centre in Newcastle, a listed building was sensitively adapted to create a public space for architectural dialogue and learning, combining preservation with contemporary intervention. Hopetown Darlington transformed disused railway structures into a cultural destination that honours the legacy of the Stockton and Darlington Railway while creating new opportunities for education and tourism. Similarly, projects such as Beamish and the redevelopment of Northumberland County Hall have focused on repurposing and improving existing assets, reducing environmental impact while enriching the communities they serve.