Brad Jones

Adaptive reuse holds enormous promise for reimagining cities and delivering cost-effective senior living - but the gap between concept and completion is where most projects stall. This session tells the real story of how a century-old office building in Harrisburg, PA became the Exchange Building: a vibrant community of middle-market rental apartments for adults 55+. Hear directly from the architect and the CEOs of Garden Spot Communities and Harristown Development Corporation as they unpack the playbook that made it possible. This unique project was built on a creative three-way partnership between a non-profit real estate and economic development organization, a non-profit senior living provider, and a third-party investor - a structure that unlocked financing, aligned missions, and kept the project moving forward through significant obstacles. Panelists will walk attendees through the full arc of the project: structuring the partnership, navigating building code requirements, determining structural and spatial viability, financing a middle-market model without sacrificing quality, and creating a community that genuinely serves older adults in the heart of a mid-sized American city. Whether you're an operator, developer, designer, or community leader, this session offers a candid and replicable framework for turning underutilized buildings into places people are proud to call home.