2025 BES Session: Ramova Theatre Renewed: Restoring a “Peaceful Place” (Will, O'Riely)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description

Adaptive reuse of existing buildings enhances sustainability and resiliency in the built environment while preserving the sense of place and stimulating economic growth. Recent economic and social shifts have increased the financial attractiveness of these conversions. Design professionals managing adaptive reuse projects must balance various, sometimes opposing factors, including historic preservation standards, code requirements, and client expectations. The Ramova Theatre project exemplifies the benefits and challenges of such endeavors. Originally constructed in 1929, the Ramova Theatre had been vacant since 1986. The comprehensive adaptive reuse project, led by O’Riley Office LLC, transformed the site into a vibrant community hub featuring a live performance theater, restaurant, and brewery within the existing footprint of a historical theater and commercial space. The project encompassed exterior enclosure rehabilitation, including masonry restoration and repairs, roof replacement, window restoration, and interior plaster restoration. The presenters will discuss their roles in the Ramova project team and will illustrate the challenges they faced, such as maintaining authenticity, integrating contemporary regulations and codes into a historic building, and balancing preservation to deliver a successful project to clients. The Ramova Theatre project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can preserve cultural heritage, promote sustainability, and stimulate economic growth.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
An understanding of construction terminology, architectural terminology and the understanding of the process of a construction project, along with the typical roles of consultants, contractors and architects/engineers. This project will dive into the challenges and lessons learned from a collaborative project team, so understanding traditional project roles will be important to highlight how this project was unique.

IIBEC Core Competencies: Exterior Walls (EW), Roofing (R)

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.
 

Speaker/Author

Rachel Will, PEng

Principal and Executive Director of Knowledge Sharing

WJE

Rachel Will, PE, is a principal and executive director of knowledge sharing with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. She has nearly 20 years of experience related to the investigation and repair of historic building facades. She has performed numerous evaluations, prepared repair documents, and provided construction period observations for many historic masonry (stone, brick, and terra cotta) facades as a part of adaptive reuse projects. She has authored multiple articles and given numerous presentations related to masonry, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation.

Speaker/Author

Dan O'Riley, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB

Principal

O’Riley Office LLC

Since founding O’Riley Office, Dan O’Riley leads all projects in the office. With more than 25 years of experience, he specializes in leading architectural design, with multidisciplinary teams working on programmatically complex projects.  As an advocate for collaborative design, he works closely with clients to cultivate strong, meaningful relationships on each project. Prior to founding O’Riley Office, he spent 10 years working for the Chicago, Illinois, office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP, where he was a studio head. There, he oversaw a 30-person “office within an office” focused on domestic, complex, program-driven, institutional projects, such as hospitals, research laboratories, and university buildings.

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date  5/22/2025             
Credit Expiration Date 5/22/2028

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: BES25_19_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs, learners are required to:

• Achieve a passing score of 70% on the summative assessment (learners are provided unlimited attempts)
• Complete the course Evaluation & Attestation Survey

After completing the Evaluation & Attestation Survey, learners will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.  Learners are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: [email protected]

To claim AIA LU, learners are required to complete the above requirements, as well as:

• Complete the AIA Survey (AIA member number is required)

AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES ([email protected] or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.