Office to residential conversion

Runtime:

discussed individually*
Project’s cost:

discussed individually**
Architectural supervision:

discussed individually

* Depends on the Project

** Price depennds on the style and complexity of the Project.

Empty offices are one of the clearest opportunities in Seattle housing, and one of the hardest to design. We help owners and developers decide whether a commercial building can become homes and then design the conversion: unit layouts that bring daylight to every bedroom, new plumbing and ventilation, acoustic and fire separation between homes, and a building that feels residential inside and out.

Our experience with existing buildings is practical. Copper Hall began as a 1990s building; we reconstructed it into a new office building with a copper facade, panoramic glazing and new systems, and designed the interior as well. In Residence 11 an apartment grew from 65 to 98 m² by adding a full floor where the height allowed it.

Our portfolio

Copper Hall. Exterior

Copper Hall. Interior

Residence 11

Examples of our work

Office to residential conversion: Copper Hall. Exterior

Office to residential conversion: Copper Hall. Interior

Office to residential conversion: Residence 11

Office to residential conversion: Minimalist style

Stages

01

04

Feasibility and test-fit

Structure, floor depth, windows, risers and rules, with a test layout and unit count.

02

04

Architecture and units

Unit layouts, common areas, facade changes and new systems.

03

04

Interiors and concept

Materials, lobbies, corridors and model units, shown in renderings.

04

Drawings and approvals

Drawings with engineers for permits and construction, and support on site.

Q&A

Can any office building become apartments?

No. Deep floor plates, few windows and difficult plumbing routes can make a conversion uneconomic; a feasibility study shows this before money is spent on design.

What is a test-fit?

A first layout of units on a typical floor that shows how many homes fit and what the main problems are.

Are there incentives for conversions in Seattle?

Yes. Seattle has eased some requirements for these projects and offers a sales and use tax deferral for conversions with at least 10% affordable units.

Have you converted buildings before?

We reconstructed a 1990s building into Copper Hall and added a full floor to an apartment in Residence 11; conversion to housing uses the same skills.

Do you work with engineers?

Yes. Structural, mechanical, plumbing and fire engineers are part of every conversion, and we coordinate their work.

Do you also design the interiors?

Yes: lobbies, corridors, model units and finishes for all apartments.

Do you have any more questions?

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Floor Plan Redevelopment

Architecture

Apartment and condo design

Home Additions

Contact us

dezzign.architects@gmail.com
+14254719496
Seattle, USA & Kyiv, Ukraine
Mon - Sat: 9.00 - 20.00

Office to apartments - full or partial conversion of an office building into rental or ownership homes.
Commercial to live-work - ground-floor workspace with homes above, or units that combine both.
Mixed-use repositioning - keeping retail or offices on lower floors and converting the rest.
Adaptive reuse - giving an outdated building a new use and a new identity.

Feasibility First

Not every office building converts well. Before design starts we test the floor plate depth (deep floors leave interior rooms without daylight), the window pattern, the column grid, floor-to-floor height, the structure and its seismic condition, and where new plumbing risers and ventilation shafts can go. The result is a test-fit with a unit count and the main risks, so the owner can decide with real numbers.

Units That Work

Every bedroom needs a window, and an office facade rarely lines up with a residential plan. We place living rooms and bedrooms on the perimeter, use the deep middle for kitchens, bathrooms, storage and laundry, and consider light wells or cutting a courtyard into the building when the floor plate is too deep. Corridors, elevators and stairs are reused where possible.

Systems and Separation

Homes need much more plumbing than offices: kitchens, bathrooms and laundry in every unit. We group wet rooms around new risers, design ventilation for each home, and add the acoustic and fire separation that residential codes require between units. Energy upgrades to windows and envelope often come with the conversion.

Seattle Support for Conversions

Seattle has eased some land use and design review requirements for office to residential conversions, and since 2025 offers a sales and use tax deferral for converting underutilized commercial buildings into housing where at least 10% of the units are affordable, with details set by a Director's Rule. We help owners understand how these programs affect the design.

How We Work

We start with a feasibility study and test-fit, then develop the architecture, unit layouts and interiors with renderings, and prepare the drawings with structural and mechanical engineers. Our architects work to local code, and the drawings are signed by licensed professionals we work with. See also floor plan redevelopment, architecture and apartment design.