Dynamic Life Cycle Costing for Robust Renovation of Multi-Family Housing KU Leuven in Belgium

A fully funded PhD position is available at KU Leuven, supervised by Prof. Delphine Ramon in the Architectural Engineering research group within the Department of Architecture. The research focuses on advancing cost-effective, sustainable, and climate-resilient transformation of the built environment, specifically through the development of dynamic life cycle costing methodologies for robust renovation of multi-family housing. The project is part of the research line on cost-effective sustainable building renovations and aims to address the urgent need for faster and deeper renovation of existing building stock to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Renovation rates and energy performance in multi-family housing remain low due to collective ownership, split incentives, and limited investment capacity. Current renovation decisions often rely on static life cycle cost methods or short-term financial indicators, which do not capture long-term value creation under changing economic, policy, and climate conditions. This PhD project seeks to develop a dynamic life cycle costing methodology that integrates building valuation and income generation, moving beyond lowest-cost assessments to a value-based perspective supporting robust investment and policy decisions.

The candidate will tackle four core challenges: (1) development of a dynamic LCC methodology including building valuation and income streams; (2) assessment of renovation strategies under cost, energy price, and policy uncertainties; (3) robust selection of renovation scenarios across uncertain futures; and (4) coupling the methodology with building information modelling (BIM) to enable automated extraction of material quantities, cost data, and performance indicators for complex buildings. The research will contribute methodologically to life cycle costing and valuation, delivering actionable insights and tools for policymakers, financial institutions, and building professionals.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Engineering Science: Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a closely related field. A strong interest or background in building economics, renovation, BIM, and programming (e.g. Python) is required. Candidates must demonstrate affinity with quantitative and methodological research, including data analysis, modelling, or tool development. Proficiency in English is mandatory; knowledge of Dutch is an asset. The ideal candidate is scientifically rigorous, well-organised, creative, proactive, and enjoys both independent and collaborative work. Interest in teaching and MSc thesis supervision is expected, as well as willingness to present research at conferences and publish in international journals.

The position offers a four-year fully funded PhD contract, with an intermediate evaluation after one year, leading to a PhD degree in Engineering Science: Architecture. The candidate will be embedded in a supportive, interdisciplinary research environment, with close supervision and guidance from a supervisory committee. Access to a structured doctoral training programme, career development opportunities, international research stays, and participation in conferences are provided. KU Leuven offers a competitive salary, social security, health insurance, and access to university facilities. Active encouragement and support to apply for an FWO PhD fellowship is included.

Applications should be submitted online via the KU Leuven job portal. For further information, contact Prof. Delphine Ramon at [email protected]. The application deadline is 31 July 2026. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.