Social sustainability in building retrofit projects: a systematic literature review

Purpose This study analyzes social sustainability in building retrofit projects, highlighting approaches, benefits and indicators to advance sustainable practices in construction, while identifying research gaps and developing a framework of social sustainability indicators. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was performed using the PRISMA method, based on the Scopus and Engineering Village databases. The analysis covers aspects of social sustainability in building retrofit projects, types of intervention, social applications, project management, benefits, evaluation methods, research gaps and framework. Findings The retrofits were categorized into six types: Energy, Comfort, Architectural, Structural, Historical and Global. Energy retrofits (41%) were the most frequent, while structural (4%) were less studied. Key benefits included improved community impact, worker well-being and tools like Building Information Modeling. The study identified 15 tools/indices and 107 indicators, organized into seven categories. “Occupant comfort and well-being” category had the most indicators, while “Productivity and operational efficiency” had the least. Research gaps were noted, particularly in structural and architectural interventions. A framework of social sustainability indicators for retrofit projects was proposed, with 31 key themes. Originality/value This study presents an analysis of social sustainability in building retrofit projects, illustrating its practical applications and importance. It identifies key indicators and proposes a conceptual framework for assessment. By filling existing gaps and highlighting opportunities for future research, this study advances sustainable building practices and promotes social sustainability approaches.