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Overcome complex structural, façade, and MEP hurdles to transform aging infrastructure into high-performance, net-zero-ready buildings.
Deep retrofit projects are increasingly positioned as critical to achieving urban decarbonisation, extending asset life, and improving the performance of aging commercial and mixed-use building stock. However, upgrading existing buildings introduces technical complexities that are often underestimated during early project planning. Structural limitations, floor-to-floor constraints, façade replacement strategies, servicing integration, fire upgrades, and phased occupation requirements can significantly affect viability, programme, and delivery risk.
This session examines deep retrofit from a technical architectural and delivery perspective, focusing on the realities of adapting existing buildings to contemporary environmental, operational, and regulatory expectations. The course explores structural interventions, façade replacement, MEP coordination, embodied carbon trade-offs, and the interface between existing conditions and new systems across complex urban retrofit projects. Participants will gain practical insight into how technical constraints influence design decisions, constructability, sequencing, and long-term building performance.
The session also considers how retrofit projects increasingly require architects to balance sustainability ambitions with commercial pressures, existing asset limitations, and the practical realities of construction within constrained and occupied urban environments.
Key Topics Discussed:
Europe Architect and Design Manager | Procter and Gamble
Alla Elmahadi is a UK-registered Architect with over seven years of experience delivering workplace, commercial and regeneration projects across the UK and internationally. She currently works as Europe Architect and Design Manager at Procter & Gamble, where she focuses on workplace design, architectural standards and sustainable design across the business. Previously at Buckley Gray Yeoman, Alla worked across major commercial developments and refurbishments, including 199 Bishopsgate, Sackville House and Colmore Gate, gaining experience across design, delivery and client-facing roles. Her work is particularly driven by sustainable retrofit, adaptive reuse, regenerative design and creating workplaces that respond to people, communities and their wider context. Alla is also passionate about the role of architecture in creating positive social impact and has contributed to industry initiatives through organisations including the British Council for Offices, Article 25 and the New London Architecture network. She is also a Board Member and Partnerships Director at the Sudanese Diaspora Network, where she leads partnership development and fundraising initiatives supporting humanitarian and community-led projects. Her work bridges architecture, advocacy, and social impact, reflecting a commitment to creating meaningful change through both design and community engagement.