Exploring the current status of retrofitting or rebuilding in construction

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, construction professionals face a recurring dilemma: retrofit an existing building or rebuild it from scratch. This decision is not merely technical, it involves cost, environmental impact, policy constraints and heritage. While international research offers retrofit first models, they rarely fit Sri Lanka’s economic and regulatory reality. This study explores how global research addresses retrofit versus rebuild decisions and identifies the limitations of applying those frameworks locally. A mixed methods approach was used: semi structured interviews with ten Technical Officers (analysed via NVivo thematic coding) and a questionnaire survey of 26 industry professionals plus the same 10 Technical Officers (total N=36, analysed using Relative Importance Index). Results show that structural condition (RII=0.89), cost (RII=0.86) and sustainability (RII=0.71) are the top three decisive factors. Retrofitting is preferred for cost efficiency, shorter timelines and lower waste; rebuilding is chosen when structural safety or modern standards cannot be met. Key barriers include hidden defects, lack of skilled labour and weak institutional support. The study culminates in a local decision-making framework that integrates technical, economic, environmental and policy criteria, helping practitioners make transparent, data driven choices aligned with national climate resilience goals.