University of Idaho Architecture Student Champions Adaptive Reuse and Sustainable Design in Idaho and Beyond
A University of Idaho senior is turning heads in Idaho’s College of Art and Architecture with a design philosophy rooted in preserving what already exists — and finding new purpose in it. Paul Pederson, a Clarkston, Washington native set to graduate in May, has built his academic career around adaptive reuse, environmentally conscious materials, and hands-on international study that has taken him from the Palouse to Southeast Asia.
Pederson’s path to architecture began with an offhand remark from a high school teacher who mentioned him by name in the context of architecture as a career. That moment helped settle a choice he had been weighing between engineering and architecture — and the artistic dimension of building design sealed the decision.
The Case for Building With What’s Already There
At the University of Idaho, Pederson has become a strong advocate for adaptive reuse — the practice of repurposing existing structures for new uses rather than demolishing and rebuilding from the ground up. His reasoning is both practical and principled.
“The most sustainable building is one that already exists,” Pederson said. “The cost of construction is high, both in terms of the carbon footprint it leaves and the financial implications, so the less you have to tear down to rebuild, the better.”
Pederson points to examples on the U of I campus itself, including the Art and Architecture South building, as proof that adaptive reuse is not only environmentally sound but architecturally challenging and rewarding. Rather than viewing older structures as limitations, he sees them as opportunities — a perspective he traces in part to the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, a pottery repair method he encountered during a study abroad trip to Asia in the summer of 2025.
In Kintsugi, broken pottery is reassembled using a lacquer that highlights the cracks rather than concealing them, making the history of the object part of its identity. Pederson draws a direct parallel to adaptive reuse in architecture. “The character of the break becomes the identifying characteristic of the pot,” he said. “I find that fascinating because I think adaptive reuse in buildings can do the exact same thing.”
His interest in locally sourced, environmentally responsible materials has also led him to explore what he sees as an underutilized resource in Idaho: timber. In his Fall 2025 Designing with Logs studio, Pederson developed several wood-based designs, pushing against what he describes as a construction method that hasn’t meaningfully evolved since the early 1900s.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity to design with logs — they have a lot of character,” Pederson said. “But with all of the technology we have now, maybe we should see if it’s possible to bring that type of design to the present day.”
International Experience Sharpens a Local Perspective
Pederson joined a U of I Education Abroad trip to Singapore and Malaysia in the summer of 2025, led by architecture professor Xiao Hu of the College of Art and Architecture. The experience proved transformative, particularly a visit to George Town in Penang, Malaysia — a UNESCO World Heritage Cityscape that has maintained its 18th and 19th century buildings through adaptive reuse and environmentally conscious modernization.
“I had a passive interest in adaptive reuse before the trip, but I really learned a lot that excited me about it during the trip,” Pederson said. “Penang was my favorite place to visit. It had a strong culture that was really reinforced by modernizing the older architecture in George Town.”
In Singapore, Pederson observed how a densely populated urban environment — home to more than six million people — has made green space a policy priority. Government agencies there have incentivized property owners to incorporate rooftop gardens, vertical greenery, and ground-level communal gardens as part of the country’s Green Plan 2030 initiative.
Assistant Professor Leonie Bunte, who teaches in U of I’s College of Art and Architecture and for whom Pederson has served as a teaching assistant in Architectural Design I and II, praised his approach to the discipline. “Paul has stood out as an excellent student and is very thoughtful in his design approach,” Bunte said. “He has a genuine commitment to developing his ideas, both conceptually and technically.”
Beyond the classroom, Pederson has been active in the American Institute of Architecture Students and was recently elected president of the AIAS chapter at U of I. He also received a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society award, which he used to fund his study of architecture in Asia.
The University of Idaho is also set to host the inaugural Moscow Furniture Show on May 2, an event that reflects the broader creative and design energy present within the institution’s College of Art and Architecture community.
What Comes Next
Pederson plans to pursue a master’s degree in architecture following his May graduation and intends to focus his research on adaptive reuse opportunities. He is also weighing a future in academia, citing his teaching assistant experience as something that has made him both a better educator and a more receptive student. “I think teaching may be something I do eventually,” he said, “but I also think it’s helped me be a better student by showing me I can be more teachable.” As Idaho’s built environment continues to grow and evolve, Pederson’s commitment to working with — rather than against — existing structures may offer a model for responsible, cost-conscious development across the region and beyond. For more on education news from across Idaho, visit Idaho News.