Thornton Tomasetti’s Charu Chaudhry on Integrating Technology in Building Restoration

In this episode of Buildings 2.0, Jose speaks with Charu Chaudhry, Associate Principal at Thornton Tomasetti, to explore the fascinating world of historical building preservation. Charu shares her journey from working on 10th century Buddhist monasteries in India to tackling 18th century rowhouses. 

Charu offers her insights into balancing historical preservation with modern needs, leveraging technology like scanning for accurate data collection, and redefining sustainability through durability and long-term building performance. Charu’s expert perspective provides a fresh perspective on how to honor the past while embracing the future in building design. 

 

Topics discussed:

• How to maintain the integrity of historical buildings while incorporating contemporary requirements and innovations.
• Leveraging modern tools like scanning and data collection to accurately analyze and preserve historical structures.
• Redefining sustainability by focusing on the long-term performance and durability of building materials and structures.
• Using analytics and a deep understanding of materials to enhance the performance and longevity of historical buildings.
• Discussing specific projects, such as 18th-century rowhouses, and the unique challenges and solutions involved.
• Conducting hydrothermal studies to understand the performance of building envelopes and improve their preservation.
• Methods to analyze stress concentrations in historical buildings and how this informs preservation strategies.
• The importance of working with various organizations and stakeholders to achieve successful preservation outcomes.