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This module presents ways to develop a strategy and detail structural solutions for the re-use of existing structures for a new purpose. To this end, condition assessment methods are introduced to be able to delineate the extent and detailing of structural interventions, for a wide range of existing structural typologies, including historic structures as a special subset of existing structures with additional design limitations. Heritage values, guidelines & international charters establishing the principles of heritage conservation are also covered. The module presents a number of successful and not-so-successful case studies of different scales and contexts to discuss the interventions, to further highlight the open-ended nature of adaptive reuse.

The teaching programme will include:

1. Building life-cycle and embodied carbon. Relevance and response of structural engineering to efforts to decarbonise built environment and construction industry, with a summary of recent developments in the sector (including a review of current and proposed policies/guidelines to measure, reduce and cap embodied carbon footprint of buildings).
2. A special set of existing buildings: (historic and modern) heritage structures. Historic background of the development of conservation and heritage theory from the 19th century onwards, with a focus on building reuse and beyond. International charters, and their critique. When and how structural engineering becomes relevant. Regulatory framework.
3. Vernacular/traditional and monumental typologies.
4. More modern building typologies
5. Introduction to structural intervention design: Preliminary engineering assessment. Delineation of structural system. Condition assessment. The morphology and pathology of masonry, timber and concrete through visual inspection. Foundation inspections. On-site measurements: Non-destructive and semi-destructive testing and structural health monitoring. Application of Finite Element Modelling.
6. Repair techniques: repointing and grout injection for masonry, strengthening methods.
7. Addition of new elements. Material and mechanical compatibility principle. New space enclosure. New floors. Horizontal and vertical extensions.
8. Upgrading fire resistance and hygrothermal performance of existing elements of structure.
9. Case studies and field visit(s)

Learning Outcomes

On a successful completion of the course, the students will be able to develop the structural design interventions for the new use of an existing building. More specifically, they will:

1. Recognise how structural engineering is relevant to achieving sustainability and the overall decarbonization of built environment.
2. Understand how heritage building conservation can help both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
3. Identify and implement various visual, non/semi destructive and analytical methods suitable to help judge the residual load-bearing capacity of an existing building (condition assessment).
4. Demonstrate knowledge of common repair and strengthening methods.