Seismic Retrofits in Occupied Buildings–Without the Headaches
Seismic retrofits in occupied buildings don’t have to mean chaos.
When property managers hear “seismic retrofit” or “structural repair,” one thought often comes to mind: tenant disruption. Dust, noise, blocked access, late-night phone calls, unhappy tenants—it’s a nightmare scenario for managers who already juggle vendors, compliance, and budgets every day.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way.
Why Minimizing Disruption Matters
Tenant satisfaction isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a business consideration. When retrofits lead to miscommunication, equipment interference, or access limitations, the fallout can include damaged relationships, tenant turnover, or even risk lease defaults.
But a well-managed occupied property retrofit does the opposite: it builds confidence. When tenants feel informed and considered, they’re more likely to stay, and more likely to trust you with future changes.
What Tenant-Sensitive Retrofit Construction Looks Like
Many contractors treat seismic retrofits like routine construction projects—failing to account for the real-world impact on tenants and day-to-day operations. But occupied properties require a different level of care, coordination, and communication.
Here’s what a tenant-sensitive approach should include:
Protect What Matters
The right contractor works around your equipment—without creating problems or passing on liability.
In most cases, seismic retrofits don’t require removing shelving or major items. Our team works carefully around existing conditions, especially in sensitive areas like server rooms, warehouses, and office spaces.
In office spaces, we ask that tenants remove personal items from desks to reduce the risk of damage. From there, we take the necessary steps to contain dust and maintain a clean work environment. That may include applying plastic masking to protect electronics, setting up flexible containment zones, or sealing off active work areas with zip-wall systems to reduce airborne particles.
Too often, clients tell us they weren’t informed upfront that other contractors wouldn’t safeguard equipment—or were surprised by added fees later. A tenant-sensitive approach plans for these realities from the start, without pushing liability or logistics back onto you.
Keep Warehouses Running
Retrofits shouldn’t bring active operations to a halt.
In industrial and warehouse environments, work should be scheduled around existing shipping, storage, and workflow patterns—not through them. Crews should adjust to tenant schedules and minimize disruption to inventory movement and deliveries.
Saunders Seismic was able to coordinate with our high-profile tenant and our engineers to avoid interruptions and ensure satisfaction to all entities involved. The warehouse is over 199,000 square feet and there was a significant amount of product and 24-hour operations during the project. Saunders was able to work around the tenant, while maintaining a professional atmosphere.
DAVID LOTH
PACIFIC WEST MANAGEMENT
Respect Residents in Multifamily Buildings
Comfort and communication go hand in hand.
Retrofit work in multi-family residential buildings typically comes with scheduling restrictions, including limits on noise, access, and working hours. In most cases, construction can only take place during standard weekday hours. That makes planning and tenant coordination even more critical.
We provide advance notices, coordinate access needs (like parking or hallway usage), and clearly mark work zones to keep residents safe and informed. Containment strategies are tailored to minimize disruption, helping tenants maintain their routines with as little interference as possible.
Assign a Single Point of Contact
Someone needs to be accountable.
Each project should include a dedicated lead who handles schedules, site access, and updates. Managers shouldn’t have to track down subcontractors or chase answers. One reliable contact makes coordination simpler and more effective.
Communicate Early and Often
The fewer the surprises, the better the outcome.
Proactive updates and fast answers help property managers stay ahead of tenant questions. Clear signage, timeline notices, and regular check-ins help reduce uncertainty and build trust throughout the process.
The Result: Smoother Projects, Happier Tenants
It’s common to hear property managers say:
“We didn’t know it could be this easy.”
When seismic retrofits are managed with care, complaints drop—and in many cases, tenants express appreciation for how professional and unobtrusive the process was.
That’s the power of a tenant-sensitive retrofit approach. And when you’re working with a fully occupied property, it’s not just helpful—it’s essential.
Plan Around Your People With Saunders Seismic
At Saunders Seismic, we specialize in seismic retrofits in occupied buildings across California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Utah. Our in-house crews, tenant-first planning, and responsive project leads help minimize disruption while protecting what matters most—your property, your people, and your peace of mind.
We treat every job as if the building were our own—working carefully, cleanly, and with a deep respect for your time, your tenants, and your bottom line. That means going beyond the basics to reduce inconvenience, avoid unnecessary costs, and keep your retrofit process running smoothly from start to finish.
We’ve completed thousands of seismic retrofits since the 1980s—roughly 93% of them in occupied buildings. From medical offices to food-grade facilities, corporate campuses to warehouses, we’ve worked in just about every environment—and built a reputation for getting the job done with minimal disruption and maximum care.
Contact Saunders Seismic to schedule a no-pressure consultation and experience what a smoother retrofit process looks like.