Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering

A Framework for Sustainability Assessment of Urban Regeneration Projects in Historical Urban Areas

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD Candidate, Construction Engineering and Management, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran
2 Assistant Professor, Construction Engineering and Management, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran
10.22065/jsce.2026.530341.3760
Abstract
Sustainable urban development is now a major global goal, particularly in historic urban districts, where balancing regeneration and cultural preservation is a challenging task. This study focuses on West Asia and presents a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework for historical fabric regeneration projects. The framework prioritizes sustainability indicators in four categories: environmental, social/cultural, economic, and transportation (essential for ensuring accessibility, urban connectivity, and reducing environmental impacts through sustainable options, but it is often overlooked in historical reconstruction). The contribution of this study is the development of a framework for historic fabrics, in which transportation is conceptualized as an independent dimension alongside environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Indicator-specific scoring intervals were defined according to project typologies. Data were obtained through structured expert questionnaires (n = 31), and indicator weights, as well as scoring ranges, were derived using Likert-scale evaluations and aggregated statistical analyses. The results indicate that the social dimension is the most important aspect of achieving sustainable outcomes in historic areas, particularly in terms of user satisfaction and cultural preservation. Economic indicators, such as building lifetime, are also quite important. Transportation is one of the influential dimensions in enhancing urban resilience by encouraging accessible public transportation. The findings also reveal that the environmental dimension is crucial for achieving sustainable outcomes, particularly in the use of sustainable materials.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2026

  • Receive Date 17 July 2025
  • Revise Date 28 December 2025
  • Accept Date 20 February 2026