The repurposing of derelict buildings into new, highly functional facilities that bring value to the community is an important practice in sustainability. By giving a renewed purpose to these structures, architects and developers find worth in outdated buildings, furthering the growth of communities while preserving history to have a major, lasting impact on the built environment.
In 1971, Highland Mall opened near the north junction of Interstate 35 and Highway 290 as the first suburban mall in Austin, Texas. With time, the advent of online shopping and competition from other local retail destinations, the mall and its customer base deteriorated in the new millennia. With the growing number of bankrupt and vacant stores, the urban decline of the entire region was accelerated. Realizing this inevitability and recognizing the opportunity to centralize critical programs and serve a growing population, Austin Community College (ACC) purchased the land to renovate the defunct mall into a state-of-the-art center for innovative learning, training excellence and community engagement.