How can digital and technological tools help boost the retrofit and refurbishment agenda?

In an era of escalating climate crisis and urban transformation, the built environment stands at a critical juncture. Buildings – responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions – represent both our greatest challenge and the most significant opportunity for sustainable innovation.

Retrofitting has emerged not just as a strategy but as an imperative to reshape our urban landscapes and address the mounting environmental challenges of the 21st century.

The global context is both compelling and urgent. With urban populations projected to grow by 2.5 billion by 2050, and the construction industry under intense pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, traditional demolition and rebuild approaches are becoming increasingly untenable.

This demographic and environmental squeeze creates a perfect storm of necessity, driving innovation in how we approach existing built infrastructure.

A virtual roundtable hosted by Building in partnership with Bluebeam in the autumn gathered experts from across the engineering, construction and digital solutions sectors to discuss how emerging technologies and multidisciplinary collaboration can drive the retrofit agenda forward.

Speaking at the roundtable, Stephen Fernandez, global retrofit leader at Arup, cut to the heart of this imperative, with a single statistic that encapsulates the profound need for a comprehensive retrofit strategy: “80% of the buildings we’ll occupy in 2050 already exist today.”

This challenges the traditional mindset of constant demolition and reconstruction, instead advocating for a more sustainable approach that values existing structures.

Historical context and evolving perspectives

The concept of retrofitting is not new. Historically, individuals in the built environment have always adapted and reused buildings, with heritage conservation providing a blueprint for sustainable building practices.

Matthew Pettigrew, structural engineer at WSP, noted that the heritage sector has long understood the value of adaptive reuse, finding creative ways to preserve and repurpose existing structures.

“Through drone scanning and mapping, we discovered entire architectural elements that weren’t documented in any original plans”

Gary Fannon, Bam UK & Ireland

However, the modern retrofitting approach goes beyond mere preservation. It represents a holistic reimagining of buildings as dynamic systems that can be optimised, upgraded and transformed to meet contemporary environmental and functional standards.

This shift requires a fundamental change in how architects, engineers and construction professionals approach building management.

The technological revolution in building assessment

The technological landscape of retrofit represents a profound shift in how professionals approach building transformation. Advanced data collection technologies now provide unprecedented insights into existing structures, enabling a more nuanced and strategic approach to building adaptation.

Cutting-edge technologies such as drones, lidar and three-dimensional scanning have revolutionised the initial assessment phase, allowing professionals to capture building data with millimetre-level precision. These technologies represent a quantum leap from traditional survey methods, offering unprecedented detail and accuracy.

Gary Fannon, digital project solutions business partner at Bam UK & Ireland, shared a revealing example from a Blackburn College project that illustrates the power of these technologies.

“Thermal imaging, structural monitoring and long-term performance data must be combined to truly understand a building’s potential and risks”

Ross Boulton, Buro Happold

He said: “Through comprehensive drone scanning and mapping, we discovered entire architectural elements – roofs and walls – that weren’t documented in any original plans.”

This anecdote highlights how technological advances can uncover hidden complexities in existing structures, potentially saving significant time and resources in retrofit planning.

Deep data integration and comprehensive assessment

The true power of modern retrofit technologies lies not just in individual tools, but also in their ability to integrate multiple data sources.

Ross Boulton, associate sustainability consultant at Buro Happold, emphasised the critical nature of comprehensive data integration. “You cannot rely on a single method of assessment,” he stressed.

“Thermal imaging, structural monitoring and long-term performance data must be combined to truly understand a building’s potential and risks.”

This multimodal approach allows for a much more nuanced understanding of a building’s condition. Professionals can now create incredibly detailed digital twins of existing structures, mapping everything from structural integrity to thermal performance with unprecedented accuracy.

However, it is impossible to deny that even with advanced technology, the industry struggles with accessing and using data effectively.

Jalpesh Patel, industry development manager at Nemetschek, said: “There’s often a gap between what’s captured and what’s accessible.”

He highlighted how integrating tools like geographic information system and data management platforms could streamline project planning and reduce uncertainty.

AI and other game-changing approaches

The emergence of artificial intelligence represents perhaps the most transformative technological development in retrofitting.

AI systems can now process vast amounts of building data, identifying complex patterns and simulating retrofit scenarios with remarkable speed and accuracy.

“Emerging tools like embodied carbon calculators are enabling us to quantify the trade-offs, helping clients make decisions that align with both their budget and sustainability goals”

Mark Postill, AtkinsRéalis

James Chambers, global industry development director at Nemetschek, described this capability as “like having a supercharged adviser that can present multiple options in minutes”.

These AI systems go beyond simple data processing, offering predictive capabilities that can forecast potential improvements, identify risks and suggest optimal intervention strategies.

The analytical capabilities of these AI systems are truly remarkable. They can perform complex analyses that would take human professionals weeks or months in a matter of minutes.

From predicting energy efficiency improvements to simulating complex thermal scenarios, AI is transforming the retrofit landscape.

Augmented reality and virtual reality have also emerged as powerful communication and planning tools in the retrofit ecosystem.

These immersive technologies allow stakeholders to visualise complex interventions before any physical work begins, bridging the gap between technical expertise and stakeholder understanding.

Boulton highlighted their communicative potential: “Not everyone can read two-dimensional drawings or interpret technical thermal data. Immersive technologies can help stakeholders understand the implications of different design options.”

This capability is crucial in gaining buy-in from clients, investors and other stakeholders who may not have a technical background.

Balancing cost, carbon and complexity

The retrofit challenge is fundamentally about balancing economic constraints with environmental imperatives. This delicate balance requires sophisticated approaches that consider multiple factors simultaneously.

The delicate balance between cost, carbon reduction and the practicalities of retrofitting was a recurring theme throughout the roundtable discussion. For many clients, the decision to retrofit or rebuild hinges on this triad, and emerging tools are helping to provide clearer answers.

Anna Hunter, technical director for NG Bailey, explained the challenge from an MEP perspective. “There’s always a trade-off between what’s possible within a building’s constraints and what’s economically viable,” she said.

Retrofitting often requires creative solutions to ensure existing structures meet modern efficiency standards without exorbitant costs. For example, upgrading HVAC systems or improving insulation can dramatically reduce operational carbon, but these changes may not always be feasible given budgetary or structural limitations.

Mark Postill, director at AtkinsRéalis, highlighted the growing importance of embodied carbon assessments in these decisions. “Clients are increasingly aware of the long-term environmental impact of their choices,” he said.

“Emerging tools like embodied carbon calculators are enabling us to quantify the trade-offs, helping clients make decisions that align with both their budget and sustainability goals.”

However, the complexity of retrofitting can complicate these calculations, with Hunter pointing out that while certain elements, such as vertical systems or steel frameworks, have relatively straightforward carbon profiles, others – like bespoke equipment or custom retrofits – can be harder to quantify.

“The tools we use for operational carbon assessments need to be expanded to account for these complexities,” she said.

Fannon said the concept of phased retrofitting is a means of balancing cost and complexity. “Not everything has to be done at once,” he said. “You can plan upgrades over time, aligning them with lease cycles or tenant moves to minimise disruptions and spread costs.”

This phased approach allows projects to evolve in line with technological advancements, ensuring that the most cost-effective solutions are employed at the right time. It has emerged as a means for allowing organisations to manage financial investments more strategically.

“The real power of technology lies in its ability to bring everyone – engineers, architects, contractors, and clients – onto the same page”

Anna Hunter, NG Bailey

Fernandez highlighted the importance of communication and collaboration in navigating this balancing act.

“The decision to retrofit is rarely simple,” he said. “It requires a deep understanding of a building’s needs, as well as the ability to communicate the benefits of retrofitting to stakeholders who may be more focused on short-term costs than long-term savings.”

On this point, the panel also discussed how advanced energy performance modelling enables detailed predictions of potential efficiency improvements.

Lifecycle assessment technologies allow for comprehensive evaluation of long-term environmental and economic implications.

This method enables businesses to spread retrofit investments over time, aligning upgrades with operational cycles and financial capabilities.

Challenges and limitations

Despite the incredible potential of retrofit technologies, significant challenges remain.

Accessibility is a critical concern, with not all projects or organisations having the budget to leverage cutting-edge technologies. This can create disparities in how retrofitting is approached, both project to project and business to business.

Pettigrew said: “While we’re seeing amazing advancements in technology, not every project has the resources to utilise these tools to their full potential.”

This technological divide could potentially create a two-tier system where only well-funded projects can benefit from the most advanced retrofit strategies.

Fernandez cautioned against over-reliance on digital tools. “Technology is a facilitator, not a replacement for expertise,” he said.

For example, while 3D scanning and structural monitoring can provide insights into a building’s condition, they cannot fully account for the nuances of historical structures or the challenges posed by unknown variables.

Chambers and Hunter both emphasised the need for tools that integrate across disciplines.

“The real power of technology lies in its ability to bring everyone – engineers, architects, contractors and clients – onto the same page,” Hunter said. She advocated for platforms that allow real-time collaboration, enabling teams to adapt to challenges as they arise.

Looking ahead, the panellists were optimistic about the potential of technology to further transform retrofitting. “The tools we have today are just the beginning,” Boulton said. “As AI, robotics and data integration continue to evolve, the possibilities for smarter, more efficient retrofitting are endless.”

Looking to the future

The path forward requires continued technological innovation, collaborative approaches and a holistic understanding of buildings as dynamic, adaptable systems.

As Fernandez put it: “Retrofitting isn’t just about preserving buildings; it’s about shaping a future where our structures are smarter, greener and better equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

The built environment stands on the cusp of a transformative era. With technological innovation, collaborative approaches, and a commitment to sustainability, the sector has the potential to reimagine its existing structures, creating more efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible spaces for future generations.