Meeting 8 – May 20th, 2025

Presentation Description:

Office to Residential: Bridging Opportunity and Execution

Across the country, office vacancies have risen sharply as remote work reshapes demand for commercial space. In response, office-to-residential conversions have gained significant attention as a creative solution to emerging urban challenges. Transforming underused office buildings into housing offers a way to help address critical shortages, reduce environmental impact through adaptive reuse, and revitalize struggling downtown areas.

Like any major renovation these projects come with real challenges. Structural limitations, outdated layouts, necessary system upgrades, zoning hurdles, and financial feasibility all present significant obstacles. Not every building will be a good candidate — but evaluating existing building stock across Canadian cities offers a valuable opportunity for innovative development. We will discuss this in context of three Ottawa conversions, including the completed Slayte on Albert, and two others currently under construction downtown, talking about preparation, approaches and some of the typical challenges.

Despite the complexity, office-to-residential conversions are becoming an increasingly vital strategy for cities looking to adapt to post-pandemic realities. With thoughtful planning, policy support, and smart design, they have the potential to foster more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant urban communities.

Presenter Background:

Adrianne Mitani, P.Eng., is a Senior Associate at Smith + Andersen, specializing in mechanical engineering and sustainable building design. With over a decade of experience, she has led high-profile projects such as the Ingenium Collections & Conservation Centre as well as a number of completed and ongoing Office to Residential conversions including the Slayte. Passionate about advancing the industry, Adrianne actively mentors young engineers and has served on the Executive Committee of the ASHRAE Ottawa Chapter for the past 6 years. Recognized for her excellence, she received an ASHRAE Technical Award in 2023 in Residential Construction for 70 Gloucester, and continues to advocate for greater diversity in engineering.