Celebrating Earth Day and Honoring Legacy through Adaptive Reuse

Legacy in Stone: A Family Monument and the Future We Shape

As Earth Month invites us to reflect on our connection to the planet and the legacy we leave behind, I find myself drawn to the idea of preservation, not just of the environment, but of culture, memory, and place.

Growing up, my family’s stories were woven with purpose. One in particular continues to echo through my life and work: the story of the Roman Quadriga in Cali, Colombia. This striking monument, a chariot pulled by four horses, designed by Spanish sculptor Juan Fisher in 1926, was once perched atop my great-grandfather’s home. He, Juan B. Quintero, was a visionary who believed deeply in the harmony of history and progress.

He later gifted the monument to the city, and it now stands at the Obelisk in Cali. That gesture, a private treasure becoming a public legacy, still shapes how I see the world. In many ways, it was my first lesson in what we now call adaptive reuse: the art of transforming what once was, to serve what might be.

The Spirit of Transformation

Now, as a commercial real estate broker in Pasadena, that same spirit of transformation guides my work. Adaptive reuse is more than a development strategy, it’s a philosophy rooted in respect: for architecture, for community, and for the planet.

Preserving existing buildings instead of demolishing them:

• Reduces waste
• Conserves embodied energy and materials
• Honors architectural stories that connect us to the past

In a city like Pasadena, where historic buildings whisper tales of a century gone by, repurposing spaces becomes a form of storytelling. A former factory becomes a loft. A forgotten theater becomes a co-working hub. In this, I see not just smart development, but poetry.

From Rooftops to Museums: My Personal Path

This journey isn’t just professional, it’s deeply personal. I’ve always been drawn to spaces with stories. That’s why I volunteer as a docent at Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural gem, and at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, where art and culture connect us across time and distance.

I also serve on the Board of Pasadena Heritage, where we work to protect the architectural treasures that define our city’s soul. Each of these experiences reminds me that preservation is not passive, it’s active stewardship.

We don’t just preserve buildings.
We preserve meaning.

Earth Month Reflections: What Will We Leave Behind?

This Earth Month, I’m thinking about legacy, not just the one I inherited, but the one I’m helping to shape.

Through adaptive reuse, through storytelling, through my work and my volunteerism, I hope to pass down more than properties or profits. I want to pass down places with purpose, and a future where progress and preservation walk hand in hand.

An Invitation

Take a walk through your city this month. Look at the buildings you pass. Ask yourself:

• What was this space before?
• What could it become?
• How might we reimagine it, together?

Preserving the past is not about standing still, it’s about moving forward with care.

Happy Earth Month 💚
With gratitude,
Ana Soulriver
Honoring Heritage & History Through Preservation

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