Case Study: How We Repositioned an Aging Office Building into a Marketable Asset

The Project

In 2006, we designed and constructed a three-story office building for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). NBRC remains the building owner although they relocated their offices after selling a sister company that previously occupied most of the facility. Following this transition, NBRC entered into a lease agreement with existing tenant PSI. In coordination with NBRC and PSI, we were engaged to complete a series of improvements, repairs and upgrades to support PSI’s continued occupancy.

The Challenge

Time had begun to impact performance and operational costs, particularly across the parking lot and rooftop HVAC units. At the same time, exterior envelope components were becoming increasingly expensive to maintain, creating pressure to invest in longer-term solutions.

Equally important, the building’s original single-tenant design no longer aligned with PSI’s operational needs or today’s leasing environment. Large, open office areas limited flexibility, making it difficult to attract and accommodate smaller tenants to offset occupancy costs. Reconfiguring the space required thoughtful planning to introduce separation, security and functionality without overcomplicating the layout.

All of this work had to be executed while PSI and their subtenants remained operational, which required careful scheduling, early-morning and weekend work, and close coordination with building stakeholders to minimize noise, disruptions and downtime.

The Solution

We worked closely with PSI to evaluate building conditions and prioritize improvements that would deliver maximum value.

Site work was carefully sequenced to maintain full functionality throughout construction. We first delivered a new 77-stall parking lot, then rehabilitated the existing 170-stall lot in phases. We addressed underlying soil conditions by reconstructing portions of the asphalt and concrete pavement and corrected grading and drainage, extending the lifespan of the asset and reducing annual maintenance costs.

Inside the building, we reconfigured the second floor to support a multi-tenant environment, introducing demising walls, secure access controls and more adaptable office layouts. Our team balanced efficiency with flexibility, creating spaces that could accommodate a range of tenant sizes.

Mechanical and infrastructure upgrades were executed with precision and speed. Three rooftop HVAC units totaling 220 tons were replaced over a single weekend using more energy efficient like-for-like systems to avoid costly structural and roof modifications. Additional targeted improvements, including a new insulated overhead dock door and exterior envelope repairs, resolved persistent maintenance issues and strengthened overall building performance.

The Result

The revitalized facility improves NBRC’s asset and supports PSI’s current operations while positioning them for growth by creating opportunities to attract subtenants. The 45% increase in parking capacity, combined with more adaptable interior spaces, improved the building’s usability and leasing potential. At the same time, infrastructure upgrades reduce annual maintenance demands and operating costs over the long term.