Ryan Anderson reflects on the enduring impact and adaptive reuse of Herman Miller’s first manufacturing facility in Bath, England, developed over 40 years ago. Originally a factory and now transformed into a university, the vision for this building was envisaged through a series of key principles outlined as a “Statement of Expectations”. Underpinning The Bath Brief was the aspiration for developments to serve our communities well after their intended use, ensuring the resilience and adaptability of our cities.

You may have heard a lot of talk recently of vacant offices becoming apartments, but can you imagine a 40 year-old factory becoming a university? That’s exactly what happened with Herman Miller’s first manufacturing facility in Bath, England which has recently been awarded three top architecture awards. Its story of adaptive reuse can serve as a blueprint for the development of any commercial structure in the future.