From Cubicles to Condos: Exploring the Office to Residential Trend with Mark Oberholzer and Marissa Kasdan

With office vacancies rising and housing shortages mounting, the commercial real estate industry is at a tipping point. In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Marissa Kasdan and Mark Oberholzer of KTGY to explore how adaptive reuse—and their bold Upcycle Tower concept—could reshape our cities.

They discuss the real-world challenges of converting steel-framed office towers into viable residential buildings, the role of city incentives, and how thoughtful design can balance livability, cost, and sustainability. Learn how phased conversions, mixed-use flexibility, and embodied carbon savings are making adaptive reuse a compelling path forward for developers and municipalities alike.

🔑 Topics covered:

• Economic and environmental case for adaptive reuse
• KTGY’s Upcycle Tower design concept
• Zoning and policy changes in cities like Los Angeles
• Structural and cost considerations
• Strategies for integrating office and residential spaces
• Urban resilience and sustainable development