Files
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Architecture
College
Arts and Sciences
Department
Architecture
Faculty Advisor
Charlott Greub
Studio Coordinator
Stephen Wischer
Faculty Chair
Susan Kliman
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Rights
NDSU policy 190.6.2
URI
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Abstract
Across the US, many malls have been left vacant due to widespread decline, leaving valuable urban land underutilized. This is not a liability, but an opportunity to adaptively reuse these sites and transform them into community hubs. Through research into the history of malls in the US, the current state of retail, theories of place, adaptive reuse strategies and case studies, five principles of adaptive reuse were derived to guide the design. The results of my research suggest that connection to the context, diverse program, community, sustainability, and human centered design can make former malls vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable parts of their communities, offering a model for future suburban redevelopment.
Recommended Citation
Grant, Kennedy, "Life & Death: How Adaptive Reuse Can Reimagine Dying Malls & Their Role in Their Communities" (2026). Architecture Theses. 61.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/architecture-theses/61