ABSTRACT The utilization of overall translation techniques in buildings offers numerous advantages, including cost-effectiveness, shortened construction timelines, and environmental sustainability. These techniques are increasingly being employed for the conservation and renovation of existing historic structures. Taking the former site project of the South Downtown Library in Shanghai, which requires the overall translation due to the requirements of urban renewal, as an example, a systematic detection and identification of the damage and safety states of the overall structure were conducted. The damaged condition and overall structural safety were evaluated, and the corresponding reinforcement and repair suggestions were proposed. The former site of the library, a brick-timber mixed structure, was reinforced using U-steel through internal support and external pulling. The structure was also lifted and translated using the overall translation technique. The displacement responses of the key parts of the structure were monitored using the displacement sensors during the translation. The detailed finite element model of the former site of the Shanghai south downtown library, strengthened by U-steel, was established using the ABAQUS. The displacement responses of the structure’s key components during the jacking and translation were analyzed, and compared with the actual monitoring results. Good agreements were observed between the model predictions and test results. Utilizing the validated finite element model, parametric analyses were carried out. The effects of the rate of jacking and translation as well as the ground flatness on the displacement responses of a structure were analyzed, the mechanical and safety states of the structure reinforced with U-steel were further evaluated. This study can provide a reference for the overall translation technique and safety assessment of similar historic buildings in the urban renewal processes.