Every public building project begins with a critical question: should a community invest in renovating an existing facility, repurpose an existing building through adaptive reuse, or is it time to build something new? This live virtual program will examine the complex factors that shape that decision, including capital and lifecycle costs, operational needs, sustainability goals, community expectations, accessibility, resilience, and long-term service delivery. Drawing on real-world perspectives from public works leaders and industry professionals, panelists will share lessons learned from evaluating, planning, and implementing facility projects across the public sector.
Attendees will leave with practical questions to ask and decision-making approaches they can apply when evaluating renovation, adaptive reuse, and new construction options. The session will help participants better align facility investments with community priorities, budget realities, operational efficiency, and the evolving needs of the people they serve.
Learning Objectives:
• Identify the key factors that influence whether renovation, adaptive reuse, or new construction provides the greatest long-term value for a public facility.
• Understand how lifecycle costs, operations, sustainability, community priorities, and existing building conditions affect project decisions.
• Examine case studies where renovation, adaptive reuse, and new construction each proved to be the right solution.
Speakers/Panelists
Katie Chard, AIA, NCARB
Associate Principal/Senior Project Manager
Steinberg Hart
Peykan Abbassi, P.E., LEED AP
Vice President Engineering, Southern California Region
CSG Consultants, Inc.
John Warnement
Director of Public Works
Webster, Texas
Tony Brandyberry
Maintenance and Operations Division Manager
City of Moreno Valley
Moderator:
Chris Ewell
Senior Project Manager
Entellus, Inc.
Hosted by the Facilities and Grounds Committee
Proficiency Level: Applied
This program offers 0.1 CEU credits for the one-hour presentation portion of the program. The final half hour discussion in the lounge area is optional.
Registration: Free for members; $99 for nonmembers
Instructions for joining the webinar will be emailed to you the day prior, and day of the event.
A recording of this program will be available through the APWA Resource Center 3-4 weeks following the live program.
Click, Listen and Learn Contact Information Questions: (800) 848-2792, education@apwa.org
LAST DAY TO REGISTER: 12:00 p.m. Central Time December 2, 2026
Refund Policy: Online Education Program–Cancellation/Refund Policy