Housing and Community Development

There is a growing interest in converting underused commercial buildings to residential use nationwide. The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) is designed for adaptive reuse projects, but the challenges are complex and diverse. In June 2024, the International Code Council formed an Adaptive Reuse Working Group to consider how the IEBC might better support office-to-residential conversions. The survey linked below has been designed to provide input to these efforts from design professionals and other subject matter experts. 

We hope you can take about 15 minutes to give your input, and then share this survey link with colleagues and cohorts active in this emerging project area. You can also opt-in to see the anonymized results and/or get updates and other opportunities to participate.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVSHSHW

ICC Adaptive Reuse Working Group

AIA Code Committee

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Michael Malinowski FAIA
Sacramento CA
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I support this idea; I suspect the first major hurdle would be changing zoning to allow it?

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Dustin W. Goffron, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
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That change is happening; state law in CA for example now allows housing by right in all commercial zones.  Due to the extent of low occupancy in urban centers, this will likely be the pattern that extends to all of the major cities in the country over the next year or two.  Please fill out the survey as it will help bring focus on key issues and contraints; planning entitlements is one of many obstacles.

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Michael Malinowski FAIA
Sacramento CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2024 05:44 PM
From: Dustin Goffron AIA
Subject: Office to Housing Adaptive Reuse Survey

I support this idea; I suspect the first major hurdle would be changing zoning to allow it?

------------------------------
Dustin W. Goffron, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
------------------------------

Hi Michael, thanks for bringing this up. I'm working in Nor.Cal and converting 9 empty classrooms in a mixed use building into 9 apartments in the heart of down town Sebastopol. One cost burden for us is that the local Municipal code requires solar for any new housing, but does not distinguish between an existing building and new construction. The CEC does not require solar on existing buildings no matter the change of use. It was a huge hit and has the potential to kill the project. I've already converted the 1st floor of a small commercial building into 2 apartments. This brought the total to 4 and triggered the requirement to go back in and hard wire fire alarms for each unit and pay for monitoring. Another huge financial hit on a project that is not financially viable anyway. That said I'll review the Existing Building Code and do the survey and see what else come up. I also work in Oregon and we have eliminated single family only zoning and parking minimums among other things. But multifamily housing and mixed use is completely stalled even with tax incentives, it's just too expensive. Even if interest rates come down, it's hard to see how we are going to meet the dire need for housing here in Bend. 

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[Katherine] [Austin] [AIA]
[Owner]
[Katherine Austin, AIA, Architect]
Bend OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2024 05:27 PM
From: Michael F. Malinowski FAIA
Subject: Office to Housing Adaptive Reuse Survey

That change is happening; state law in CA for example now allows housing by right in all commercial zones.  Due to the extent of low occupancy in urban centers, this will likely be the pattern that extends to all of the major cities in the country over the next year or two.  Please fill out the survey as it will help bring focus on key issues and contraints; planning entitlements is one of many obstacles.

------------------------------
Michael Malinowski FAIA
Sacramento CA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2024 05:44 PM
From: Dustin Goffron AIA
Subject: Office to Housing Adaptive Reuse Survey

I support this idea; I suspect the first major hurdle would be changing zoning to allow it?

------------------------------
Dustin W. Goffron, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Original Message:
Sent: 9/25/2024 5:43:00 PM
From: Katherine A. Austin AIA
Subject: RE: Office to Housing Adaptive Reuse Survey

Hi Michael, thanks for bringing this up. I'm working in Nor.Cal and converting 9 empty classrooms in a mixed use building into 9 apartments in the heart of down town Sebastopol. One cost burden for us is that the local Municipal code requires solar for any new housing, but does not distinguish between an existing building and new construction. The CEC does not require solar on existing buildings no matter the change of use. It was a huge hit and has the potential to kill the project. I've already converted the 1st floor of a small commercial building into 2 apartments. This brought the total to 4 and triggered the requirement to go back in and hard wire fire alarms for each unit and pay for monitoring. Another huge financial hit on a project that is not financially viable anyway. That said I'll review the Existing Building Code and do the survey and see what else come up. I also work in Oregon and we have eliminated single family only zoning and parking minimums among other things. But multifamily housing and mixed use is completely stalled even with tax incentives, it's just too expensive. Even if interest rates come down, it's hard to see how we are going to meet the dire need for housing here in Bend. 

------------------------------
[Katherine] [Austin] [AIA]
[Owner]
[Katherine Austin, AIA, Architect]
Bend OR
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2024 05:27 PM
From: Michael F. Malinowski FAIA
Subject: Office to Housing Adaptive Reuse Survey

That change is happening; state law in CA for example now allows housing by right in all commercial zones.  Due to the extent of low occupancy in urban centers, this will likely be the pattern that extends to all of the major cities in the country over the next year or two.  Please fill out the survey as it will help bring focus on key issues and contraints; planning entitlements is one of many obstacles.

------------------------------
Michael Malinowski FAIA
Sacramento CA
------------------------------