RUDC on AIAU: Office to Home Conversions: Adaptive Reuse in Suburban Markets
Attend RUDC's final 2025 AIAU course and receive 1 LU | HSW.
1 LU | HSW
Live course date: 12/09/2025 | 03:00 PM
Description
As remote work transforms the commercial real estate landscape, architects face unprecedented opportunities to address the affordable housing crisis through innovative adaptive reuse strategies. This course explores how underutilized office buildings in suburban markets can be transformed into vibrant residential communities. Our expert panel will examine current office vacancy trends and their implications for conversion opportunities, while diving deep into practical design strategies that navigate stringent zoning challenges and building code adaptations essential for structural health and safety. Participants will discover the complexities of adapting essential infrastructure, particularly the requirements for updating mechanical, electric, and plumbing systems to ensure adequate sanitation. These design challenges also include addressing issues such as the potential need for seismic retrofits in certain areas and determining the usability of existing structures, such as existing circulation and floor slabs. Beyond addressing housing shortages, these conversions offer substantial environmental benefits by extending building life cycles and reducing construction waste. Join us to explore cutting-edge approaches that transform vacant commercial spaces into thriving residential neighborhoods while supporting sustainable development goals.
Speakers
Joseph Ahmadi, AIA, NCARB
Ali Anbari, PhD
Karin Liljegren, FAIA
Upendra Poudel, PhD, PE
Learn more and register >
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Susan Parrish
Director, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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