This project seeks to identify how viability of EQ strengthening individual buildings in suburban and provincial New Zealand may be transformed through the adoption to a whole ‘precinct’ approach to strengthening. A precinct approach to strengthening offers a focus on a specific locality at risk and therefore offers scope to pool resources, economies of scale, and the co-funding of associated infrastructure improvements (e.g. street upgrades), creating the potential to ‘build back better’ and faster than if buildings are strengthened individually. We want to evaluate whether the precinct approach will be particularly effective in suburban and provincial settings where market forces and local expertise are insufficient to drive the viability of strengthening. The proposed project will identify the key elements of a precinct approach that would be useful in a range of New Zealand settings and develop a prototype conceptual model for testing with precinct stakeholders. Understanding of the wider economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits and costs from strengthening precincts will be achieved via action research that is in itself transformational.