"With developments such as the new Perth Stadium, Yagan Square, Perth City Link and Elizabeth Quay currently underway, there is no better time to think creatively around the role the City's existing building stock can play in shaping Perth's exciting future," Ms Scaffidi said. "A recent report by the Property Council of Australia WA indicates the market is beginning to transition to recovery, so the time to be creative and reposition these assets is now. "While the adaptability study can't provide a solution for office vacancy (which has been largely brought on by macro-economic conditions), it generates a conversation within the industry and imagines thought-provoking concept schemes to improve the diversity and resilience of Perth City." Hubs of health, fitness and treatment could be housed in revitalised buildings. Credit:City of Perth. The release of the City's six design ideas comes after the Labor member for Perth John Carey chaired a summit on Saturday about the future of the city, calling for the regeneration of Hay Street and for more measures to bring people into the city, such as cheaper parking.

Along a similar track, the City recently cut the rates for owners of a number of heritage sites in the CBD to encourage them to upgrade their buildings, including the Piccadilly Arcade with its iconic theatre. Damian Stone from Y Research was a consultant for the the City's C-grade building design project, and said while the city is staring down the barrel of high vacancy rates for some time to come, it's vital to come up with ideas that signal Perth is open to change, and create a CBD that can better weather WA's inevitable booms and busts. "Cities are changing and to meet the future needs of workers, tourists, shoppers and residents, and this is a chance to look at what we have and find new ways to make the best of it," Mr Stone said. "With full buildings for the last decade, owners haven't had to consider if a supermarket could be a multi-floor tenant in an office building, or if a medical centre could take a mid-building floor. "The high vacancy will encourage owners, occupiers and Government to come up with innovative solutions and new business models. For those owners with the will and the resources to make a change, Government can assist by being open to different uses. Measures such as lower parking requirements, or plot ratio bonuses for certain uses, could also assist.

"What will ultimately drive building conversions will be market acceptance from schools, hotel operators, retailers etc and market pricing that reflects the cost to convert buildings." Perth CBD - Mixed Use Credit:City of Perth. This kind of change for building use is happening already now in Perth: The Richardson Hotel in West Perth could soon become an aged care facility, the old Telstra building in Northbridge is set to become student housing and a former Bankwest office on James Street is transforming into a hotel. These moves build on historic changeovers, such as turning the old Perth Taxation Office into the Duxton Hotel, putting six star hospitality in the old Treasury Buildings, and the conversion of an office block for St George's Anglican Grammar School on William Street. The City of Perth's six new design ideas are based on a typical C-grade office building in Perth's CBD, with a survey of 200 buildings in the CBD creating a generic model of five storeys or fewer with the ability to add another, and floor space of between 500 and 800 square metres.

It's understood the cost for conversion on average has been estimated at around $3,000 a square metre. The overall concept is to show a range of new uses for the buildings to encourage strata owners to explore the possibilities their buildings can open up, rather than letting them sit unused or underdone on the lean office lease market. A Grade Office - Transform older C-grade office finishes to A level, attracting new tenants to the CBD.

- Transform older C-grade office finishes to A level, attracting new tenants to the CBD. Education - Create 'vertical schools', where higher, secondary and even primary school age students can attend classes in the CBD.

- Create 'vertical schools', where higher, secondary and even primary school age students can attend classes in the CBD. Student accommodation - Remodel office buildings to provide housing for students on multiple levels.

- Remodel office buildings to provide housing for students on multiple levels. Multi-residential - Create living space for CBD communities, including shared living spaces.

- Create living space for CBD communities, including shared living spaces. Mixed use - Combining retail space with residential areas and office space, including co-working areas.

- Combining retail space with residential areas and office space, including co-working areas. Health and well being - Grouping medical and health specialists together in the same building, such as dental, GPs and occupational therapists. There's scope to convert old buildings to A-grade level. Credit:City of Perth. Perth-based architecture firm Cameron Chisholm Nicol was the lead design consultant for the project, with Dominic Snellgrove, designer of the Australia's first five star energy rated building, 30 The Bond in Sydney, heading the effort.

Working closely with Wood and Grieve Engineering, BSM Consulting and the City of Perth's Economic Development and Development Approvals Units, Mr Snellgrove said it's far more efficient to repurpose a building than simply tear it down and start over. "Adaptation and re-use rather than demolition has the capacity to deliver economic social and environmental returns as well as reactivate empty or under-utilised space," Mr Snellgrove said. "The most sustainable building is the one that is already built." Mr Snellgrove said despite the downturn, Perth is being presented with a rare opportunity to change the city to one that has life on multiple levels, rather than just on the street level. "A recent property Council report indicates the beginning of a long awaited recovery in the office market.

"However the recovery in the office market will be led by the relatively new A and Premium Grade buildings leaving a question mark over the viability of the Grade C stock which represents over 60% of the office buildings in the CBD. "Many of these buildings are either partially occupied or vacant." Perth CBD - Student Accommodation. Credit:City of Perth. The City of Perth said it will now speak to more than 200 inner-city building owners and show them what it called "a comprehensive due diligence report" for the ideas. "Too often booms stifle innovation because of the practicalities of servicing high demand during high growth periods. Conversely, the current economic shift can be a powerful driver for change making innovation a necessity not a luxury," Mr Snellgrove said.

Loading "Successful, vibrant and sustainable cities rely on diversity and activity not vacant space. They rely on active, vibrant and engaged streets as well as upper floor levels. "Far from being doom and gloom, Grade C office buildings offer a unique opportunity to provide a range of innovative and diverse uses in the post boom era."