INTEGRATED
ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE

The design decisions were primarily guided by the need to address structural deficiencies and enhance the building's seismic resilience against potential future seismic events. Alongside these structural improvements, timely measures were implemented to resolve other critical issues and shortcomings that impacted the effectiveness of teaching activities. The critical issues that were analysed and resolved can be summarised into the following macro-categories: seismic enhancement of the building, compliance with fire prevention regulations, energy efficiency improvements of the building envelope, removal of architectural barriers, and adaptations to health and hygiene standards for restrooms, optimisation and compliance of all existing systems, and architectural revitalisation of the building. This included maintaining its educational purpose and expanding its role within an urban square setting, to incorporate functions such as art exhibitions, neighbourhood sales and citizen services on the ground floor.