Circular Renovation Practice of Aged Educational Buildings: A Case Study of Neuron Building

In Europe, cities are largely built, and the central focus of building-related CO2 emissions is less on the design of new buildings, but on the renovation and transformation of the existing building stock (EPRS, 2021). In the European Union, approximately 17% of non-residential buildings are educational buildings (Österreicher & Geissler, 2016). Many of them were built in the 1960s-1970s. These buildings are typically characterized by high occupancy rates and substantial energy use (Hu, 2020). As such, the renovation of educational buildings plays a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of the built environment. Compared to demolition and new construction, renovation offers considerable environmental benefits, including reduced material consumption, lower embodied carbon emissions, and the preservation of existing structural resources (Dragonetti et al., 2025). Therefore, prioritizing the circular renovation of educational buildings is essential to achieving climate goals and advancing circular construction practices in the EU.

Despite growing attention to circularity in architectural design research and practice, significant gaps remain, particularly in the context of circular renovation (Circle Economy Foundation, 2024; Carbonell-Alcocer et al., 2022; Transitieteam Circulaire Bouweconomie, 2018). There is a lack of documented case studies and clear methodological frameworks that demonstrate how circular principles can be effectively applied in the circular renovation of existing buildings. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the Neuron building, which is an award-winning renovation project. The original building, completed in 1972, was designed by Jacques Choisy (OD205); renovated by Team V Architecture (2019-2023), an education building (of 12,330 m2) for TU/e in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In renovation practice, the challenges of circular renovation, zero energy renovation, and architectural design to create attractive future learning environments are entangled, thus explored in interrelation in this paper, and focus on circular renovation. Through the analysis of this building case, the study discussed the applicability of circular strategies in renovation processes.

A framework based on three analytical questions guided the research:
1. How have the key stakeholders of the design team defined circularity and formulated related design goals in the renovation design process?
2. Which circular renovation strategies have been applied in Neuron (Structure, Materiality)?
3. What conflicts, compromises, and innovations emerged during the circular renovation process?

Unlike frameworks that often remain theoretical, this research provides a practice-based account of how circularity is interpreted, negotiated, and operationalized among diverse stakeholders. This research project builds on a mixed-methods approach, combining case study, document analysis, drawing analysis, and conversations with key stakeholders. A total of 5 conversations were conducted with key stakeholders involved in the Neuron renovation project, including the client (TU/e Real Estate), the architect (Team V Architecture), structural engineers (Royal Haskoning DHV), the sustainability consultant (DGMR), and the contractor (Heerkens van Bavel Bouw). Collected data was analysed through content analysis to identify patterns, tensions, and the application of circular strategies.

Neuron exemplifies a paradigmatic shift in architecture, emphasizing circularity and integrated design. This paper explores the collaborative renovation process and transformation strategies of Neuron, with an emphasis on how circularity was embedded into both design strategies, construction, and materialization, which contributes to a growing body of knowledge on circular renovation. A key contribution of this study lies in the systematic categorization of results across thematic dimensions such as stakeholder definitions of circularity, applied strategies, and emergent challenges and innovations. The findings support future policy development, design practice, and stakeholder collaboration by illustrating how circular strategies can be effectively integrated into complex, multi-actor renovation projects.