A multilevel and multi-scale method to optimize the sustainable construction works

The nature of the sustainable approach in the construction management is complex, because of the large number of involved components and relationships between disciplines, objects, phases of the life cycle, aspects and variables of any actual project or construction works process. Complexity is one of the major assumptions of the conceptual model on which the new European assessment standard family of CEN TC 350, still in progress, is based, adopting a multidisciplinary approach. However, the future developments are expected to go more and more into the direction of the integration of the three major components in the life cycle: environmental, social, economic, as well as at the international level the discussion on wider system boundaries, beyond the building, is going on. These are sufficient grounds to start managing any case of construction works as an interdisciplinary and multi-layer issue, evaluating and planning any action as the integration of a certain number of actions involving many variables and producing cross effects. At this point a multiscale and multilevel approach becomes indispensable. The paper actually contributes to start up a new generation of sustainable approaches at construction problems, reporting on the research focused on the development of inductive, logical / operational guidelines, aiming at optimizing the sustainable management of construction works. The identification of a multiscale and multilevel method supporting the decision-making process, focused on key objectives / criteria / indicators with respect to the energy, environmental, social and economic performances, is applied to “Città Studi Campus Sostenibile”. The project, member of the ISCN network and inserted in the European Peripheria framework, is promoted by the Politecnico and the University of Milan to transform the university district into a model part of the city in terms of quality of life and environmental sustainability.