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Introduction
The change to reuse and adaptation of buildings is a trend that has been clearly charted by [18] Gallant and Blickle (2005), [27] Kohler and Hassler (2002), [4], [3] Ball (2002, 1999) and [5] Bon and Hutchinson (2000). In countries such as Australia there is a significant switch from new buildings to adaptation and rehabilitation of existing structures ([13] De Valence, 2004). The importance of this trend is that extending the useful life of existing buildings supports the key concepts of sustainability by lowering material, transport and energy consumption and pollution ([21] Gregory, 2004; [15] Douglas, 2002).
Adaptation is gaining recognition as an effective strategy to improve the sustainability of existing buildings ([3] Ball, 1999; [6] Brand, 1994; [33] Pickard, 1996; [26] Kohler, 1999; [28] Latham, 2000; [8] Cooper, 2001; [27] Kohler and Hassler, 2002; [15] Douglas, 2002; [21] Gregory, 2004). There is nothing new in adapting buildings for different uses ([6] Brand, 1994; [3] Ball, 1999; [15] Douglas, 2002). One reason for the interest in adaptation is the growing perception that old buildings are often cheaper to convert to new uses than to demolish and rebuild ([21] Gregory, 2004; [12] Department of Environment and Heritage, 2004; [34] Pearce, 2004; [15] Douglas, 2002; [4] Ball, 2002; [42] Vanegas et al. , 1995). Reusing the existing building stock, particularly as a result of performance upgrading, has been identified as having an important impact on sustainability of the built environment ([7] Bromley et al. , 2005, [41] Sustainable Construction Task Group, 2004; [36] Rohracher, 2001; [26] Kohler, 1999; [25] Kendall, 1999). Although socio-economic growth generates a constant demand for new buildings, the number of buildings constructed annually in developed countries only corresponds to 1.5-2 per cent of the existing building stock. At that rate of construction output, it would take anything from 50 to 100 years to replace the current stock of existing buildings. Therefore, the majority of them will remain with us for decades ([41] Sustainable Construction Task Group, 2004; [27] Kohler and Hassler, 2002; [10] Curwell and Cooper, 1998). [31] Myers and Wyatt (2004) maintain that debates concerning sustainable development raise the importance of the building stock as economic, social and cultural capital that should not be wasted. However, [24] Holyoake and Watt...