Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse Workshop

Building Ideas for Adaptive Reuse

On June 4, 2025, PA Route 6 Alliance participated in the Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse workshop held at the Six and Kane building in Kane, PA. This workshop was inspired by a prior strategic thinking session hosted by the West Penn Energy Fund in collaboration with MYNDDSET.

During that earlier session, Kane local and workshop participant John Cleland asked a pivotal question: “How can I apply strategic thinking to support my team on our adaptive reuse project?” Recognizing a broader need within rural communities to revitalize and repurpose historic structures, West Penn Energy Fund responded by assembling a design team, including PA Route 6 Alliance, to create a hands-on workshop focused on adaptive reuse through the lens of strategic thinking.

Hosted by MYNDDSET, the full-day workshop at Six&Kane welcomed more than 50 attendees. The event featured several showcase projects, which shared valuable insights into the challenges and successes of repurposing older buildings. Participants also received a preview of the West Penn Energy Playbook, offering practical tools and strategies for future reuse initiatives.

Turning Ideas into Action

A follow-up workshop later took place as part of PA Route 6 Alliance’s 2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards, September 11, also at Six&Kane.

Joel Morrison, of the West Penn Energy Fund, unveiled the Old Spaces, New Energy Playbook, which focuses on revitalizing rural communities by transforming underutilized buildings into high-performance, sustainable, and productive spaces, was met with enthusiastic participation from the attendees, and guests were given a tour of the ultimate energy efficient building, including the PA Wilds Media Lab.

One of the show case projects in the Old Spaces, New Energy Playbook, Lynn Hall PA, was honored at the “Do 6” Awards program with the Heritage Tourism Award, which recognizes businesses or projects that drive economic and tourism development while honoring the cultural and historical resources of the PA Route 6 Corridor. A full recap of the 2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards, can be found here.

Another Example: Kane Area Children’s Museum

West Penn Energy Fund continues to make an impact in rural Pennsylvania along the Route 6 Corridor, playing an important role in the development of the Kane Area Children’s Museum. The up-and-coming museum, like other projects under the helm of West Penn Energy Fund, is bringing new life to an old space, the former Chestnut Street School, an elementary school in Kane that closed in 2010.

In December, PA Route 6 Alliance, along with other community partners, were invited to tour the property and see the progress being made. Speakers included children’s museum board member Joe Lanich, Kate Kennedy of Kane Area Development Center, and Joel Morrison of West Penn Energy Fund.

PA Route 6 Alliance extends its sincere thanks to the West Penn Energy Fund for inviting the Alliance to be part of the Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse Workshop and the development of the accompanying Playbook. We are honored to collaborate on such a forward-thinking initiative that supports the revitalization of rural communities through strategic reuse of underutilized spaces. Thank you for recognizing the value of our shared mission and for including us in this impactful effort.

Design Team of Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse

• Joel Morrison
  Fund Administrator, West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund
• Barb Robuck
  Director of Marketing, West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund
• Mark T. Burke
  Founder & Lead Experience Designer, MYNDDSET
• Kristi Krott
  Project Manager, Six&Kane
• John Cleland
  SPARKS – Kane, PA
• Stephanie Distler
  Brick Block – Johnsonburg, PA
• Will Hunt
  Director of Potter County Planning
• Kate Kennedy
  Executive Director, Kane Area Development Center
• Candace Hillyard
  Executive Director, PA Route 6 Alliance
• Rachel Courtney
  Program Manager, PA Route 6 Alliance

MYNDDSET Podcast UNTANGLEMENT: Building Futures with Systems Thinking

March 5, 2025
In this episode of UNTANGLEMENT, join Mark Burke, CEO of MYNDDSET, as he discusses the Design Team’s initial thoughts. Hear from Joel Morrison, West Penn Energy Fund Administrator, and John Cleland, a dedicated community builder from Kane, PA, as they explain how developing thinking skills is essential in addressing vacant and underutilized buildings in communities.