A comparative cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment for supporting museum design choices: an applicative case study in Cáceres, Spain

The pursuit of sustainable design solutions and energy demand reduction in the building sector drives the exploration of innovative construction methods and technologies. Each design choice, however, carries distinct environmental implications as well as impact on the other relevant project dimensions which makes design process complex. This thesis introduces a comparative methodology utilizing Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the sustainability of different construction solutions with particular regard to cultural buildings. The research focuses on a case study of a museum in Cáceres, Spain, where alternative construction solutions are explored while keeping the shape and aesthetic choices fixed. Three construction methods - Reinforced Concrete (RC), Mass Timber (MT), Concrete Frame with Clay Blocks (RC+CB) - are analysed using advanced BIM-LCA tools. A cradle-to-grave LCA is conducted based on a detailed bill of quantities from the Revit BIM model and energy demand data the outcomes show that if construction choices are considered from the very early stage the construction design can be optimised to significantly reduce impacts without negatively affecting the architectural shape.