Composite System for Structural Enhancement and Efficient Heritage Conservation: A Case Study

Conservation of heritage buildings is an integral part of urban development in every nation. Repair, restoration, retrofitting or upgrading works to the built infrastructure is quite challenging and essentially requires the preservation of its architectural features. Such operations create complex decision-making and execution challenges to the engineers. The present case study discusses one such project aimed at restoring and upgrading the heritage building constructed in the 1950s in Singapore. The paper discusses various challenges faced and strategies adopted to restore the building within the regulations framed by Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore. The structure has suffered from the disadvantages of low-grade concrete, corrosive reinforcement, spalling and cross-sectional loss of steel. An ingenious engineering technique using the composite system, combining the advantages of fibre reinforced polymer composites, corrosion inhibitors and conventional strengthening method was adopted to enhance the structural performance of the building to suit the increased loading conditions. It was observed that the proposed restoration practice ensured safety and structural capacity without compromising the heritage values and architectural appearance of the building. The challenges experienced, lessons learnt, and upgradation frameworks adopted in this study are expected to aid researchers and practitioners in understanding and exploring various methods of heritage infrastructure conservation.