Sustainable structural retrofitting for historic buildings: a long-term decision analysis approach

The structural design of retrofitting solutions for historic buildings is a complex decision-making process and can be effectively integrated by various approaches able to take into consideration the entire life cycle of the project. The present study develops a decision tool for the design of refurbishment interventions for historic buildings, adopting a Life Cycle Thinking approach and integrating the long-term multi-attribute decision analysis. Starting from the multi-parameter analysis of a selected building, two timber- and one concrete-based structural interventions of floors strengthening are analyzed using an ELECTRE-based method, and considering a combination of economic, architectural, environmental, and structural effects related to present, medium-, and long-term performance aspects. The study demonstrates that the rehabilitation of existing buildings can be effectively supported and optimized to integrate technological performances with long-term effects of different solutions.