California Reimagined: Preserving Historic Buildings (Series Part 2)
Join us for this five-part series on adaptive reuse and repositioning projects in California. Each 90-minute webinar will bring together engineers, architects, developers, and other AEC experts to share practical insights and real-world examples.
Historic buildings offer some of the most rewarding—and challenging—opportunities for adaptive reuse in California. Their unique materials, construction methods, and character-defining features and spaces require a thoughtful balance between preservation priorities and modern performance expectations. This session will explore how project teams navigate these buildings’ constraints and opportunities, highlighting strategies for achieving compliance, improving resilience, and meeting historic approvals.
Speakers will discuss the regulatory framework that governs historic projects, including local, state, and federal guidelines, the California Historical Building Code, and the role of Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The session will also introduce the differences between code-based and performance-based structural approaches, common building enclosure considerations when working with archaic materials, and best practices for collaboration between design architects and preservation specialists. Attendees will gain insight into how project teams can strengthen, upgrade, and modernize historic buildings while honoring their cultural and architectural significance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the regulatory framework and background documents, such as Historic Structure Reports, that guide preservation-focused adaptive reuse projects in California.
- Recognize when performance-based structural design approaches may be beneficial for preserving historic materials and elements.
- Identify key building enclosure considerations when working with archaic or historically significant materials.
- Describe effective collaboration strategies between design architects and preservation specialists to balance modern requirements with historic integrity.
ABOUT THE SERIES
California Reimagined: Adaptive Reuse and Repositioning Insights for the Built Environment
Adaptive reuse—the practice of transforming existing buildings for new purposes—has become an increasingly essential strategy in California for meeting housing needs, revitalizing communities, and reducing the environmental footprint of new development. But as owners, developers, and project teams lean into these projects, they also encounter a distinct set of technical, regulatory, and economic challenges. Existing buildings often come with hidden conditions, legacy systems, and complex code triggers. Upgrading them for new occupancies—especially housing—can require expensive structural, accessibility, and life-safety improvements. At the same time, the financial math of adaptive reuse is often tight, forcing teams to solve problems with creativity rather than capital.
These constraints shift how decisions get made. They affect when to preserve versus replace, how to sequence investigations and evaluate which improvements meaningfully reduce risk, and where performance-based approaches can offer flexibility without compromising safety. Adaptive reuse projects demand interdisciplinary collaboration, inventive detailing, and a willingness to revisit assumptions when field conditions, budgets, or agency feedback change. The work sits at the intersection of preservation, modernization, and long-term resilience—but it also depends on navigating feasibility in a cost-constrained reality.
In this five-part webinar series, we bring together engineers, architects, developers, investment professionals, and other experts to explore the evolving landscape of adaptive reuse in California. Through engaging discussions and real-world case studies, the series will examine crucial themes—from early feasibility and historic-building considerations, to office-to-residential conversions, code implications for contemporary structures, and the integration of new amenities into existing buildings. Attendees will gain practical insights, learn about emerging policies and local processes, and hear a range of perspectives on how to approach these projects with both pragmatism and imagination.
Join us for the rest of the series: 
- Wednesday, January 14: Introducing Adaptive Reuse and Repositioning (Part 1)
- Wednesday, January 21: Preserving Historic Buildings (Part 2)
- Wednesday, January 28: Overseeing Office-to-Residential Conversions (Part 3)
- Wednesday, February 4: Adapting Contemporary Buildings (Part 4)
- Wednesday, February 11: Small-Scale Adaptations to Repurpose Spaces in Existing Buildings (Part 5)
Participants will earn 1.5 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the webinar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register.
About the Speaker
Anindya Dutta specializes in structural and earthquake engineering. He has analyzed and designed a variety of structures in high-seismic zones. His experience also includes seismic evaluation and strengthening of low- to high-rise structures. He has taught graduate and undergraduate-level courses on concrete design and structural analysis and serves as part-time faculty at multiple institutions. He is also a member of various technical committees and has coauthored numerous technical reports and journal papers.
Architectural Resources Group
Lindsey Miller is a historic architect who focuses on the rehabilitation of historic buildings and sites, with a focus on buildings in Southern California. Her experience includes developing planning and management strategies for historic properties through feasibility studies and Historic Structure Reports, and construction oversight on historic buildings. Lindsey has managed projects on locally landmarked and National Register-listed buildings, and has specialized expertise in the interpretation and application of the Secretary of the Interior’s standards.
Ryan Upp has extensive experience consulting on a wide range of historic and contemporary structures. He collaborates with architects, contractors, and building developers on projects that include investigating existing building enclosures, restoration and remediation repair design, and new design consulting. His work encompasses a variety of systems, including below-grade waterproofing, plaza deck waterproofing, balcony waterproofing, exterior wall and cladding assemblies, curtain wall and window assemblies, and roofing.
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