Future Forward: Four Proven Steps to Future-Proofing Buildings

As we witness a surge in urbanization and grapple with the impacts of climate change, the vulnerability of our current infrastructure has become increasingly evident, underscoring the critical need to engineer structures that endure through time. Today’s buildings reflect an opportunity to prioritize lasting design and engineering strategies that embrace resilience and longevity.

To achieve building longevity, engineers and architects should adopt a holistic approach that combines sustainability, durability and adaptability. This strategy offers economic benefits by reducing lifecycle costs; environmental benefits by lowering the carbon footprint and waste; and societal benefits by providing robust infrastructure that withstands time and changing climate conditions. Prioritizing resiliency and longevity in buildings is both a practical choice and a professional obligation for a sustainable future.

Step 1. Understand the Foundational Principles

Resiliency and longevity are central to building design and engineering. To optimize for resilience, goals must be set at the project’s inception, aligning decisions with these objectives. This proactive approach enhances quality and durability while fostering sustainability and long-term thinking.

Energy-efficient systems reduce energy consumption, operational expenses and the building’s carbon footprint. Designing for future adaptability allows flexible spaces to adjust to evolving needs through modular construction, adaptable floor plans and the ability to reconfigure the building’s infrastructure/utilities.

Architects and engineers can use advanced technologies and innovative materials to create long-lasting buildings, anticipating future challenges and opportunities. This forward-thinking approach reduces environmental impact and operational costs, providing safe, efficient and adaptable spaces.

Step 2. Enhance Building Performance

Implementing sustainable practices contributes to environmental preservation and creates healthier and more-efficient spaces. Additionally, it supports resilient infrastructure that can adapt to changing environmental conditions, ultimately supporting the wellbeing of occupants and the broader community. Key strategies to achieve these goals include the following:

• Smart and Efficient Infrastructure. Implementing efficient HVAC systems, smart building controls and renewable energy sources can reduce energy consumption and operational costs.

• Contributing to the Energy Ecosystem. Buildings should generate more energy onsite (e.g., geothermal wells, PVs, wind generated) and give back to the grid, positioning energy efficiency as a cornerstone of future architectural and engineering practices.

• Climate-Adaptive Building Envelopes. Dew-point analysis influences insulation, vapor-barrier placement and window performance. Thorough dew-point analysis ensures effective insulation, preventing condensation and moisture issues that can affect structural integrity and indoor air quality.

• Low-Carbon Materials. Materials such as recycled steel and sustainably sourced mass timber reduce environmental impact and enhance building durability. Advanced methods such as modular construction and prefabrication improve efficiency and reduce waste by streamlining the construction process.

Step 3. Design for Severe Weather Preparedness

For buildings to last centuries amidst climate change, rigorous planning and resilient engineering are crucial. It begins with a comprehensive climate-risk assessment, where location-specific climate data are analyzed to develop potential impact scenarios. Site selection and analysis follow, aiming to avoid high-risk areas by studying topography and hydrology. Resilient building strategies then are implemented, including elevating structures and critical support infrastructure in flood-prone zones, using durable materials and construction methods, and integrating passive design for natural temperature regulation.

Integrating these strategies requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and adherence to local building codes and sustainability standards.

Step 4. Implement Predictive Maintenance Technologies

Predictive maintenance technologies, including building information modeling (BIM) and data analytics, play a crucial role in extending the life of buildings. BIM creates detailed digital models that provide comprehensive insights into a building’s design, construction and operational performance. Data analytics enhance predictive maintenance by analyzing historical and real-time data to optimize maintenance schedules and improve resource allocation,.

As buildings become more intelligent, systems such as digital twins provide real-time insights into their condition and performance, allowing for timely maintenance and preventing issues. Anticipating embodied and operational carbon metrics empowers the design process, allowing for high performance with the eventual building and/or campus. Adopting predictive maintenance and flexible design practices helps buildings stay operational and up to date. Features such as modular components and reconfigurable spaces ensure that buildings can adapt to evolving needs and technologies, preserving their functionality over time.

 

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