MEETING A TIGHT SEISMIC RETROFIT DEADLINE FOR A MULTI-TENANT PROPERTY

Service Overview

Saunders Seismic completed a full seismic retrofit for a multi-tenant commercial property with 13 active tenant spaces. The retrofit was required by the property’s lender, who mandated completion by August 15, 2025, or the owners would need to purchase costly earthquake insurance. We were brought in during the final stages of escrow to help assess feasibility, provide budget clarity, and meet an aggressive construction timeline.

Challenges

The retrofit timeline was compressed from the start. City plan approvals didn’t arrive until late April 2025, and due to tenant access delays, construction could not begin until June 2—leaving just over two months to complete a project initially planned for three.   The property’s 13 tenant spaces each had unique business operations, which complicated site access, scheduling, and work sequencing. Coordinating with multiple parties while minimizing tenant disruption required detailed planning and constant communication.

Our Solution

We adapted our approach to accelerate progress and maintain tenant goodwill:  

• Provided a fast, early seismic budget to support the property sale
• Coordinated with the owner’s engineer and bid the project quickly after approvals
• Expanded our crew and added night and weekend shifts to recover lost time
• Conducted weekly coordination meetings with the owner, property managers, and tenants
• Adjusted schedules in real time based on tenant needs and access windows 

Outcome

We delivered the project ahead of the lender’s deadline, avoiding the need for costly earthquake insurance. Not a single tenant complaint was filed—a result that exceeded the owner’s expectations. Both tenants and property owners praised the seamless coordination and fast-paced execution. A formal testimonial is pending, but the owners expressed that they were “ecstatic with the results.”