As around 80% of existing buildings are expected to remain in use over the next 30 years, retrofitting plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development goals—especially in cold climates like Norway’s, where many older structures have poor energy performance. Although adaptive reuse reduces emissions and conserves resources, heritage protections can restrict modifications, making retrofitting more complex. This project explores the trade-offs between energy efficiency and cultural preservation through a case study of the protected Grensen 6 building, part of NTNU’s ongoing campus development. The findings aim to support more balanced approaches to retrofitting within historically protected areas.

The entire master's thesis will be available in the Norwegian Research Information Repository. A link will be provided once it is ready.