Façade Assessment Procedure for the Evaluation of Durability of Existing Buildings

The aim of the research is the development and application of a method for the assessment of durability and environmental impacts in the context of sustainable construction with regard to existing buildings. The method is based on the evaluation of the residual service life which, carried out through non-destructive surveys and laboratory tests, assesses the damage of the buildings envelope and its energy efficiency, correlating the level of degradation to residual performances. This analysis will be followed by maintenance planning and life cycle assessment concerning sustainability. In the case of historical buildings the analysis, together with specific surveys and documentation, allow to design a preventive preservation plan in order to avoid further damage and risk factors. The method has a direct experimental application within the project “Città Studi: Sustainable Campus”, which has the aim to transform the university quarter in Milan into an exemplar campus with respect to life quality and environmental sustainability. In particular the paper will report about the recovery-requalification of existing buildings of Politecnico di Milano at Leonardo Campus, which are nowadays under investigation/study through visual inspections, imaging diagnostic, and especially, IR Thermography. The case study deals with both the issue of repairing and increasing energy efficiency, considering durability and management of buildings, and the cultural issue of preserving masterpieces of the contemporary architecture, since many of the buildings under investigation have the famous architect Giò Ponti as author.