We are excited to announce the promotion of Chris Lutjen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, to Principal at Interactive Resources, Inc. As a member of the firm’s leadership team, Chris brings more than twenty-five years of experience in architecture, design, and project management across a diverse range of project types, including historic, civic, academic, commercial, and retail.
Interactive Resources, Inc. is the architect and structural engineer for Rehabilitation and Seismic Upgrade on the Historic Campus Powerhouse (Substation 8) at the University of California, Berkeley. The project is the recipient of a 2026 California Preservation Award from the California Preservation Foundation.
This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements in historic preservation and celebrates projects that thoughtfully restore and revitalize California’s architectural heritage. The Substation 8 project exemplifies Interactive Resources’ integrated approach to architecture, structural engineering, and historic preservation, which brings new life to a significant campus landmark while supporting critical infrastructure improvements.
Other key team members include the general contractor, Webcor and the electrical design prime P2S. The historic evaluation was performed by Architectural Resources Group.
As part of UC Berkeley’s campus-wide electrification initiative, Interactive Resources was engaged to provide architectural, historic preservation, and structural engineering services for a new high-voltage switch station. When choosing a new site for the facility proved challenging, the team proposed an innovative solution: the adaptive reuse of a nearby 1904 powerhouse building, originally designed by renowned campus architect John Galen Howard.
Previously red-tagged due to seismic risk, the building, also known as the Old Art Gallery, underwent a comprehensive feasibility assessment before UC Berkeley advanced the project. The result is a restoration that returns the structure to its original purpose as a power station, now serving as Switch Station #8.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded the prestigious Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award to Tom Butt, founder and President of Interactive Resources, Inc. This esteemed award, the National Trust’s highest national honor, recognizes Tom Butt’s...
Our firm has worked with the General Services Administration (GSA) for decades, dating back to the 1990s. One of our most recent projects has been an exciting design study of a café for the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco.
We’re excited to share our pivotal role in providing architectural and structural engineering services for the groundbreaking $700 million UC Berkeley Campus-Wide Clean Energy Electrification Project. This transformative initiative aims to enhance sustainability,...
Interactive Resources, Inc. celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in September of 1973, Interactive Resources, Inc. is one of the oldest architectural firms in the Bay Area, providing comprehensive architectural services to a wide range of private and public sector clients.
The firm’s portfolio includes federal, state and municipal facilities, energy-efficient public schools, sustainable commercial buildings and cannabis facilities, historic preservation projects, and the revitalization of public spaces. “Interactive Resources, Inc.” refers to the multiple disciplines that the firm brings together for a holistic approach that considers factors such as energy conservation and renewable energy integration, including solar photovoltaic array design, water conservation, and use of locally sourced materials to create environmentally responsible and resilient spaces.