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Event Host

California Market Center

California Market Center

California Market Center (CMC) is the iconic, West Coast hub for the fashion, creative, and entertainment industries. After a recent $2.5 million redevelopment by Brookfield Properties, CMC was transformed into an architecturally award-winning, mixed-use complex featuring curated showrooms and creative offices for renowned companies and brands. As a prominent Los Angeles events venue, CMC is also host to a year-round calendar of tradeshows, conferences, market pop-ups, and special events. Today’s CMC continues to build upon its 62-year fashion industry legacy and welcomes a global community of creatives, brand-builders, and visionaries.

Speakers and Panels

Transforming Spaces & Reshaping Communities

Repositioning & Adaptive Reuse of Existing Assets Across All Asset Types

Joon Choi

Joon Choi

Principal

Harbor Associates

Mark Weinstein

Mark Weinstein

Founder & President

MJW Investments

Alex Kolodziejczyk

Alex Kolodziejczyk

VP, Development

CIM Group

Eddie Lorin

Eddie Lorin

CEO & Founder

Strategic Realty Holdings

Brett Gomes

Brett Gomes

SVP

Argosy Real Estate Partners

James Woolum

James Woolum

Partner

ZGF Architects

Elise Kunihiro
Moderator

Elise Kunihiro

Associate

RDC

Joon Choi

Principal

Harbor Associates

Mr. Choi oversees development and co-leads asset management at the firm. Prior to founding Harbor, Mr. Choi was a Vice President of Investment Management at BlackRock where he was responsible for developments in the Western U.S. and the leasing and asset management of commercial assets primarily located in Southern California. Mr. Choi has developed or renovated over 5M square feet of properties throughout all major Western US markets and executed more than 3M square feet of commercial leases. In Southern California, Mr. Choi implemented opportunistic and value-add strategies across office, industrial, retail, and multifamily assets valued at over $1B. Prior to BlackRock, Mr. Choi worked in the finance group at Intel.

Mr. Choi holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Real Estate and Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an alumni of the NAIOP Young Professional Group and is a ULI Office and Commercial Initiative council member. He is on the Founding Team of a charter high school for at-risk students in Orange County.

Mark Weinstein

Founder & President

MJW Investments

Mark is the President and Founder of MJW Investments. After beginning his career as an attorney, Los Angeles native Mark J. Weinstein founded MJW Investments in 1983 when he discovered the potential of real estate investment and development through several successful ventures. Under his leadership MJW has acquired approximately 1 billion dollars of real estate holdings in all asset types. He also spearheaded the adaptive reuse of Santee Village, one of Los Angeles’ largest adaptive reuse projects of over 800,000 sqft. of mixed-use in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Weinstein’s passion for, and expertise in property repositioning has been a guiding factor in the company’s growth and success.

Mark is the majority owner of the firm’s $800MM diversified real estate holdings. More recently, Mark has led the firm’s strategic growth into student housing and has amassed a portfolio of student housing properties at Michigan State, Washington State, Brigham Young University, UC Santa Barbara, Texas Tech, University of Illinois and University of Oregon. The firm continues to expand its Southern California multifamily portfolio.

Throughout his career, Mr. Weinstein has maintained active associations and leadership with numerous civic and philanthropic groups. These include a three year term as Chair of the Jewish Federation’s Real Estate Construction Division; and active associations with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), the Guardians, an agency dedicated to serving the elderly, and the Jewish Venture Philanthropy fund.

Mr. Weinstein holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara (summa cum laude), and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School (dean’s list).

Alex Kolodziejczyk

VP, Development

CIM Group

With 15 years of experience in both Engineering and Commercial Real Estate Development, as a Development Vice President for CIM Group, Alex has managed an aggregate of $152 Million of development cost across 735,000 SF and delivered 346 units to the Los Angeles market. His experience includes entitlement, design, permitting and construction for both ground-up and adaptive re-use projects.

Eddie Lorin

CEO & Founder

Strategic Realty Holdings

Eddie Lorin is managing member and co-founder of Strategic Realty Holdings. He is a real estate owner, developer and acting principal. Through the course of his career, Eddie has successfully acquired more than 200 properties; 40,000 units contained in over $4.2 billion in real estate.

Eddie is one of the original “mission-oriented investors” before impact investments focused on delivering a triple bottom line…financial, environmental and social returns to its investors, residents and its stakeholders. Eddie is a member of the EIG and the Novogradac coalitions for Opportunity Zones.

Eddie is also co‐founder of the 501c3 HAPI Foundation with his wife Jane which was

developed to promote health and wellness in low-income apartment communities.

Earning his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and has been a licensed California real estate broker since 1988. He has two college-age daughters and lives in Westlake Village, CA with his wife.

Brett Gomes

SVP

Argosy Real Estate Partners

Brett Gomes is Senior Vice President at Philadelphia-based Argosy Real Estate Partners, an

institutional diversified real estate fund manager focused on the lower middle market.

Working out of Argosy’s San Francisco office, Brett leads West Coast acquisitions and

is responsible for sourcing new investments and expanding Argosy’s network of

operating partners throughout the California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.

Prior to joining Argosy, Brett was a Managing Director with PRG Capital Management

and Director of its sister company, PRG Real Estate, based in Philadelphia. The PRG

Companies are a vertically integrated multifamily owner/operator with a portfolio

comprising 12,000 units across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast. Brett is a

graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, from which he

received his Bachelor of Science in Economics.

James Woolum

Partner

ZGF Architects

Good design aims to please. But for James Woolum, great design elicits transformative human experience. Designing for significant organizational and cultural change, James creates transformative human experiences through well-crafted environments to enhance wellbeing, performance, and bring renewed purpose to under-valued buildings and spaces. James has led the design of many diverse adaptive reuse projects across the country, including a Nabisco factory turned corporate workplace in NYC, an office-to-healthcare clinic conversion, and the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of a mass timber airport hangar into a modern workplace for Google. James splits his time between his hometown of Los Angeles and his adopted home, New York City.

Elise Kunihiro

Moderator

RDC

As an Associate of RDC, Elise has been a key player on the Retail Grocery & Market workgroup over the past eight years, serving as a primary team member with Erewhon. She leads the way with dedication, strong work ethic, and drive to continuously improve workflow and efficiency within the team. Elise participates in marketing and client relationship activities, including recently published an article in the ULI Magazine about 475 S. Lake Avenue, the former I. Magnin building in Pasadena, where RDC served as architect for its historic restoration and adaptive reuse into a mixed-use destination with Erewhon, Tia and Bella.

Office To Residential Conversions

Turning Vacancies Into Livable Spaces

Patrick Chraghchian

Patrick Chraghchian

Founder, President & CEO

Adept Urban

Margo Weisz

Margo Weisz

VP

Jamison Properties

Roberto Vazquez

Roberto Vazquez

Associate Principal

AXIS Architecture + Design

Duane Hagewood

Duane Hagewood

Principal

Carrier Johnson + Culture

Brooks McDaniel

Brooks McDaniel

SVP, Building Repositioning

STO Building Group

Chris Hennessy
Moderator

Chris Hennessy

Sr Director

Shawmut

Patrick Chraghchian

Founder, President & CEO

Adept Urban

As president of each of the Adept companies, Patrick leads each team with over 30 years of design,

technical, construction, and development expertise. Patrick is a civil engineering graduate from the University of

Southern California with nearly 30 years’ experience administrating and managing construction development projects

totaling more than $300 million nationally, including apartment buildings, mixed-use developments, retail centers,

office buildings, and public works projects. His oversight ensures we provide fully integrated planning, programming,

full service architecture, engineering, construction management and contracting services.

In addition, Patrick has served as Chairman of Old Pasadena Management District, Chair of the Economic

Development Committee and is a past member of the Engineering Contractor Association. He is also an accomplished

free-style skier and supports the Western U.S. Regional Offices Finance Committee of Homenetmen, an athletic youth

organization.

Roberto Vazquez

Associate Principal

AXIS Architecture + Design

As an Associate Principal, and one of AXIS Architecture + Design’s senior leaders, Roberto Vazquez, AIA, brings over 20 years of experience and a uniquely deep level of expertise in adaptive reuse and architectural renovation to our Los Angeles office. With a significant portfolio of conversion, historic conservation, and major rehabilitation projects in downtown Los Angeles and Southern California, Roberto has successfully managed building types spanning small tenant improvements to high-rise adaptive reuse developments. Complementing AXIS’ well-established position as hospitality renovation and multi-family residential design leaders, Roberto is AXIS’ resident adaptive reuse expert, and serves as the firm’s historic conservation and conversion expert.

A recognized regional expert, Roberto’s experience with Los Angeles City codes has made him one of the local industry’s most knowledgeable adaptive reuse and renovation experts. Recently, Roberto was a key member of the AIA LA’s roundtable that in-part advised the City of Los Angeles on the creation of their new Citywide Housing Adaptive Reuse Ordinance – an effort whose goal is to improve access to affordable housing by way of streamlining the conversion of commercial and office spaces into housing stock.

Duane Hagewood

Principal

Carrier Johnson + Culture

With over 30 years of experience in city building and redevelopment, Duane has developed a deep expertise in Adaptive Reuse projects, breathing new life into existing structures while preserving their historical and cultural significance. As a seasoned leader, he skillfully guides project teams through the unique challenges of adaptive reuse, balancing the complexities of design integration, structural retrofitting, and modern code compliance. Duane’s extensive portfolio includes the transformation of outdated commercial buildings, historic landmarks, and underutilized spaces into vibrant mixed-use developments, multifamily residential complexes, student housing, and affordable living solutions. His strategic approach to entitlements and deep understanding of urban planning allows him to streamline project approvals, ensuring efficient turnarounds while maximizing the potential of revitalized spaces.

Brooks McDaniel

SVP, Building Repositioning

STO Building Group

As Senior Vice President of Building Repositioning, Brooks McDaniel provides overall direction and leadership to STOBG’s Building Repositioning Group. He works closely with the NYC-based executive leadership for Pavarini McGovern and Structure Tone to develop long-range strategic plans to help establish STOBG as an expert in building repositioning, particularly in the NYC market, as well as work with leadership across the organization to best leverage the company’s expertise in this important sector.

Brooks was previously Vice President of Design & Development at Extell Development

Company, where he was responsible for the design of millions of square feet of residential,

commercial office, hotels, retail, and educational buildings. Prior to working at Extell, Brooks

was a project director at SHoP Architects in New York, where he worked on various cultural,

residential, and institutional projects. Earlier in his career, he also worked as an architect at

Asymptote Architecture, Davis Brody Bond, and Roger Ferris & Partners. A registered architect, Brooks earned undergraduate degrees in management and in marketing from Lehigh University and a master’s of architecture from Parsons New School in New York.

Chris Hennessy

Moderator

Shawmut

As senior director of Shawmut’s West region, Chris Hennessy is focused on providing the best client experience, leading the pursuit and execution of projects across hotels, restaurants, life science, commercial, sports venues, museums, and high-end residential. This has led to a portfolio boasting the adaptive reuse projects for both Soho Warehouse and The Hoxton DTLA, The Houses at 8899 Beverly, and Nobu Ryokan and Nobu Malibu. Chris is a member of LAEDC, SCDF, ULI LA, Hotel Association of Los Angeles, California Hotel & Lodging Association, and California Restaurant Association.

Why You Won't Want To Miss This Conference:

What You’ll Learn: 

  • How can an experienced project team help developers tackle adaptive reuse projects successfully?

  • What permitting processes and regulatory hurdles do developers face with adaptive reuse projects? 

  • What key building attributes should developers look out for when assessing assets for potential conversion opportunities?

  • What challenges lie with conversions? Which types of properties are easier and more cost effective to convert?

  • What best practices and lessons can industry experts impart about successful conversions, from project planning to execution?

  • With today’s national office vacancy, and housing being undersupplied, how much of the current office building stock can and should be converted for residential use?

  • What factors into the decision to reposition or convert an existing asset to alternative use types?

Notable Projects, Assets, Deals: 

ADEPT: 35 N Raymond / Boston Centennial Building: The project  converted an existing two story department store with an existing basement into a four story residential mixed use building, with two levels of subterranean parking. Completion of the project required that the exterior of the historic building be structurally supported by a still exo-skeleton-like structure while the basement was excavated and new building constructed within. Once completed, the exterior historic façade was reattached to the newly built structure. Second floor units found additional value with new floor to ceiling heights that accommodated mezzanine loft space and introduction of new transom windows for more light and air.  When completed the project achieved the highest selling price at the time at a rate of $550 per square foot /// 388 by ADEPT – A Visionary Adaptive Reuse in Pasadena: 388 is a groundbreaking adaptive reuse project transforming an old office building and parking structure into a premier luxury condominium development in Pasadena. This innovative approach repurposes existing infrastructure to create 105 award-winning residences while preserving the urban fabric of the city. The first phase, completed in 2019, converted a former office site into a 9-story tower featuring 57 modern condominiums with stunning views of the San Gabriel Mountains and Downtown Los Angeles. Phase II, recently completed, built upon the existing parking structure to introduce 48 additional units, including walk-ups and townhomes, seamlessly integrating with the original design. The project also enhances the community with state-of-the-art amenities such as a gym, pool, and shared community spaces. Located steps from Old Town Pasadena, Lake Avenue, and the Playhouse District, 388 exemplifies ADEPT’s expertise in adaptive reuse, sustainable urban development, and forward-thinking architectural design /// Arista Glendale – A Landmark Adaptive Reuse Project by ADEPT: Arista Glendale is a visionary adaptive reuse project that transformed an aging and obsolete 1980s office tower into a premier residential community in the heart of Downtown Glendale. Designed and co-developed by ADEPT in partnership with Octane Group, this project repurposed the existing eight-story structure at 520 N. Central Avenue, converting 96,000 square feet of office space into 53 luxury apartment homes while preserving its original granite façade and two-story lobby. With floor plans ranging from 751 to 1,957 square feet and offering wraparound views of nearby Griffith Park, the Verdugo Mountains and Downtown,  Arista Glendale offers high-end finishes and luxury amenities. Residents enjoy co-working spaces, a fitness center, and outdoor green areas.  The second phase added an additional 45 units, a rooftop pool, and spa atop an existing parking structure. Arista Glendale exemplifies ADEPT’s commitment to sustainable urban development, seamlessly blending modern living with historic architecture to enhance the city’s housing landscape. 

Shawmut Design & Construction: The Hoxton DTLA /// Soho Warehouse /// Silver Lake Pool & Inn

AXIS Architecture & Design: Repurposing With Purpose: Architectural Renovation, Adaptive Reuse and Reflagging Expertise, It takes a unique talent and set of skills to take an existing space and create something completely new and valuable with it. From architecturally renovating and updating existing spaces through to leading substantial adaptive reuse projects that convert existing buildings to serve new functions, AXIS Architecture + Design are architectural renovation experts. AXIS was instrumental in the renovation of The Jay from a Le Meridien. The project was a meticulous reimagining of the hotel’s public  spaces, 360 guest rooms, ground floor restaurant, bar, and the unique 3rd-floor terrace.

Who You'll Network With At This Discussion:  Owners, Developers, Investors, Architects, Construction, Designers, Brokers, Lawyers, Financial Institutions & Government Officials.

How You'll Do More Business From Attending This CRE Event: Join industry leaders as they discuss what makes a good conversion, how to tackle adaptive reuse projects successfully and challenges in repositioning existing assets to another use type.

Why You Should Attend This Session: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.
 

Good Reads: 

Recommendations to Improve & Advance Adaptive Reuse Citywide

Adaptive Reuse Ordinance: 20 Years of Preservation in Downtown Los Angeles

Letter to City Planning Commission (CPC)

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our event producer, Samantha D'Angelo at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact  thea.parkert@bisnow.com  no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Interested in Sponsorship?

Contact avery.warren@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

Agenda

Time Activity
4:00 PM
4:55 PM
Networking, Breakfast & Coffee
4:55 PM
5:00 PM
Welcoming Remarks From William Lee, SVP of Asset Management, Brookfield Properties
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
Transforming Spaces & Reshaping Communities

Repositioning & Adaptive Reuse of Existing Assets Across All Asset Types

6:00 PM
6:15 PM
Networking Break
6:15 PM
7:15 PM
Office To Residential Conversions

Turning Vacancies Into Livable Spaces

7:15 PM
7:30 PM
More Networking!

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