Reimagining West Coast Architecture Through Renovation and Adaptive Reuse

Reimagining West Coast Architecture Through Renovation and Adaptive Reuse

Part of Architizer's Future Fest Live Series, Celebrating A+Award-Winning Projects Around the Globe

For decades, renovation and adaptive reuse were treated as secondary modes of practice — practical, often sustainable, but rarely positioned at the center of architectural ambition. That perception is now shifting. Today, adaptive reuse, expansion and renovation projects are increasingly recognized as some of the discipline’s most rigorous and culturally relevant work, earning top honors and reshaping how architectural authorship is understood.

As practices increasingly turn away from the blank slate, existing buildings have become one of architecture’s most fertile design contexts. Working within inherited structures and established formal logics, architects are using interventions on existing structures to reassert the most essential aspects of architectural craft.

This panel, featuring speakers from Foster + Partners, Olson Kundig and ZGF Architects, examines how adaptive reuse and renovation have emerged as a primary site of contemporary architectural practice. Through A+Award-winning projects that span landmark retrofits and infrastructural expansions, our speakers will consider how renovation is elevating architectural craft and positioning reuse as a defining architectural commission of our time.

Ben Dobbin, Foster+Partners

Ben, a University of Edinburgh architecture graduate, joined Foster + Partners in 1999 and has since been promoted to Senior Partner as part of their California office. His portfolio spans a diverse range of projects, including the Folkestone Harbour masterplan, Amsterdam’s Vivaldi Tower, and a pivotal role in the design of Apple Park from start to finish. With a robust track record in North America, particularly, Ben’s leadership in guiding architects and engineers is well-established. He will be presenting on the redevelopment of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid Center, which gives a new lease of life to one of the most recognizable landmarks and the second-tallest building in San Francisco.

Kirsten Ring Murray, Olson Kundig

As principal and owner of Olson Kundig, Kirsten leads complex projects such as multi-family developments, cultural institutions, and urban revitalization initiatives, all guided by design principles that prioritize the user experience. Through adaptive reuse projects, Kirsten preserves the history of existing buildings through layered experiences by adapting them for public use and residential living while strengthening connections within the urban fabric. She will be presenting about the creative transformation of 8899 Beverly Boulevard — a mid-century office building remade by the firm into a stunning 48-unit residential complex.

Gene Sandoval, ZGF Architects

You might say design partner Gene Sandoval has an active imagination. From growing up around a family shipbuilding business to finding early inspiration in sci-fi, the creative spirit was instilled in him from a young age. Gene is grateful and proud to have his roots in Asia, where he nurtured a penchant for unconventional thinking and resourcefulness that he leverages today for designs that creatively balance human and environmental performance. Gene leads design teams for some of the firm’s most complex and ambitious projects, including an expansion at the Nike World Headquarters Campus and doubling the capacity of the beloved Portland International Airport — an instantly recognizable design celebrating the beauty of both timber construction and the Pacific Northwest, which he will present on this panel.

The Final Entry Deadline for the 14th Architizer A+Awards is fast approaching — start your entry today!