Existing Building Consulting | Smarter, Sustainable Solutions

Our expertise Projects Services Insights Our experts

We’re helping our clients reuse their existing buildings through creative design, technological expertise and our passion to change the world for the better.

Around 80% of the world’s buildings will still be here in 2050. There is a huge opportunity to reuse them to reduce carbon emissions and save resources, while increasing their resilience to climate change and maximizing their social, commercial and environmental impact. But there are also challenges, from the size and scale of the task to the ingenuity and ambition needed to make it happen.

Our people are at the forefront of building transformation – helping to change people’s mindset from “I need a new building” to “how can I reuse an existing one?”. Reimagining the built environment we already have to create high-performing, efficient, future-proof buildings, rooted in the culture and history of the neighborhoods they belong to.

“When we adapt an existing building, we’re investing in resilience and strengthening the fabric of our communities. Sustainability isn’t only about new solutions — it’s about honoring what we already have and making it work for the future.”

Alastair MacGregor
Business Line Executive, Property and Buildings

Making a difference across existing buildings

Commercial and Mixed Use

Industrial and Advanced Manufacturing

Property and Buildings

Residential

Science

Sports and Events

WSP is one of the world's leading professional services firms supporting existing buildings projects. We inspire, guide, collaborate and deliver with specialists across a variety of markets.

Explore projects

Our expertise

50 United Nations Plaza

Historic buildings

Throughout the world, historic buildings and sites symbolize our shared journey through the ages. The challenge is how to preserve and respect their cultural significance while meeting the needs of modern building users and future resilience. We work with clients across all sectors to renovate and repurpose historic buildings, preserve archaeological sites and integrate solutions for energy efficiency and digital technologies.

Discover our historic buildings solutions >

Adaptive reuse

Existing buildings that were designed for a specific purpose that has evolved or is at risk of becoming a stranded asset can often be redesigned for something different to reflect the changes in community need. Our specialist engineers, designers and advisors help clients assess opportunities to transform existing buildings for the next generation, creating exciting new places for people to live, work and enjoy using the architecture that’s already there.

Discover our adaptive reuse capabilities >

©ALAN KARCHMER/OTTO
Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center

Rubin Hall at NYU

Renovation and retrofit

Our multidisciplinary teams help building owners refurbish their assets to meet new standards and market expectations in a constantly evolving environment. From renovating exteriors, updating interiors, to maximizing floorspace and upgrading building services, to optimizing operational performance throughout a building’s lifetime, our team can transform spaces for future readiness.

Discover our renovation and retrofit experience >

Portfolio decarbonization

The built environment needs to modernize, adapt and decarbonize to stay Future Ready. The challenge for asset owners and managers is how to lower carbon at speed and scale while maximizing return on investment and minimizing disruption. Our data-led approach to decarbonizing existing building portfolios identifies which assets have the most decarbonization potential, introduces interventions that will have the maximum benefit and provides a roadmap to follow. Together, we’re helping our clients achieve science-based targets for sustainability to meet society’s evolving needs.

Decarbonization Study for UCLA

Explore our existing buildings projects

New York, USA

Con Edison Thermal Energy Network Pilots in New York City

Together, the Rockefeller Center and Chelsea UTEN projects convert recovered heat into shared, low-temperature energy systems that deliver cleaner, more resilient heating to both iconic commercial towers and affordable housing in urban dense environments.

London, United Kingdom

London bridge station redevelopment

London Bridge station has been completely rebuilt, transforming central London’s oldest station into one fit for the twenty-first century by making it modern, spacious and fully accessible.

Ottawa, Canada

Centre Block Rehabilitation Project

WSP is guiding the CENTRUS joint venture and providing engineering and design management services for Canada’s largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project.

London, United Kingdom

Reusing and Repurposing Existing Buildings

WSP worked with Ashby Capital and Janson Urban to reuse and grow the existing structure of the Kensington Building, which created larger more effective retail and office spaces while reducing carbon emissions from construction.

London, United Kingdom

London office sustainable retrofit

Our engineers pioneered innovative building systems to upgrade our London office. The result is a space that drastically lowers energy demand, enhances our teams’ wellbeing and promotes productivity.

Projects

Delivering the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory

How collaborative working helped transform an industrial building in Royal Leamington Spa into one of the world’s largest coronavirus diagnostic testing facilities in record time.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Connecting Journeys At Logan International Airport

A multiphase project between the airport’s busiest terminals seamlessly links travelers to their next destination.

Santiago, Chile

Claro Arena: Engineering and Sustainability Redefining the Sporting Standard

The inauguration of Claro Arena—the renovated stadium of Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, located in San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago, Chile—marks a milestone in the advancement of sustainable infrastructure in Latin America. Conceived as a cultural, social, and sporting hub, this modern venue has been designed under international standards of efficiency and sustainability, positioning itself as a benchmark for resilient, environmentally responsible construction.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

YVR Terminal D – Vancouver Airport Expansion

This stunning airport expansion enhances convenience and offers a unique sense of place while reinforcing YVR’s commitment to sustainability and achieving its goal of connecting more travellers to their destinations.

London, United Kingdom

Engineering 40 Leadenhall, the future of premium office spaces

A collaborative project developing premium office spaces, the largest project approved in London’s historic core. Integrating innovative engineering into the building, seamlessly blending centuries of tradition with modern design and sustainable technology built for the future.

New York, USA

Rubin Hall at New York University

From a century-old hotel to a climate-friendly space for student life, Rubin Hall showcases what’s possible through a sustainable transformation of an existing historic building.