Restoring Character with Structural Clarity

Every building has a story. Whether it’s a former textile mill, a schoolhouse, or a warehouse, these structures carry with them a rich history and tremendous potential. Adaptive reuse engineering gives buildings a second life, maintaining their original character while bringing them up to today’s standards of safety, usability, and sustainability.

Repurposing an existing structure is often more cost-effective than building new. More importantly, it reconnects communities with the spaces they love — preserving character, history, and identity — while also reducing the carbon footprint.

Adaptive reuse engineering requires deep knowledge, creative problem-solving, and thoughtful coordination across the project team. With over 60 years of structural design experience, Bennett & Pless brings all three.

We start with due diligence, a critical first step in evaluating the integrity of an existing structure. Our team understands how building codes and structural  systems have evolved over the decades and how changes in occupancy designation can dramatically impact both design and cost.

From there, we work closely with owners, architects, and contractors to develop innovative solutions that respect the building’s character. Our experts in masonry, steel and wood design are adept at solving complex challenges such as upgrading floor live load capacity of the lateral force-resisting system in ways that minimize the impact on the original architecture.

Each step of the way, we help clients plan for contingencies and avoid surprises. Because when you’re working with historic structures, flexibility, creativity and foresight are everything.