ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Built Environ.
Sec. Sustainable Design and Construction
Volume 11 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2025.1629564
Sustainable Campus Planning at Universitas Diponegoro: Bridging Heritage and Modern Educational Infrastructure
Provisionally accepted
- Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia
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This study examines the challenge of integrating heritage preservation with the development of modern educational infrastructure at Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), focusing on the historic Pleburan Campus and the ongoing construction of the Twin Towers as part of the university's 2023-2032 master plan. Universities worldwide face the dual imperative of accommodating growing student populations and evolving pedagogical models while safeguarding their cultural and architectural heritage. UNDIP confronts this issue as it seeks to modernize its campus without compromising its historical identity. The study investigates how UNDIP can preserve the structural integrity and cultural significance of its aging heritage buildings while expanding technologically advanced facilities that meet contemporary academic needs, particularly exploring the tension between conservation and modernization. A case study and design-based approach was adopted, combining site assessments, structural analyses, stakeholder interviews, and geospatial mapping. This approach enabled a comprehensive evaluation of heritage buildings' conditions and the integration strategies employed for the Twin Towers development. Structural assessments revealed that heritage buildings face limitations in accommodating modern infrastructure without significant reinforcement, while newer buildings offer greater adaptability. Stakeholders expressed strong attachment to heritage structures but recognized the need for modernization. The Twin Towers project represents a strategic response, designed to harmonize architectural continuity and support academic growth. Geospatial analysis highlighted potential environmental risks near heritage sites, informing mitigation strategies. UNDIP's sustainable campus development requires a balanced, continuous strategy that respects the historical and cultural legacy of heritage buildings while leveraging modern infrastructure to meet future educational demands. Inclusive planning and sensitive architectural integration are essential to maintaining campus cohesion and institutional identity. This study provides a framework for universities facing similar heritage-modernization challenges globally.
Keywords: Convergence of new and old buildings, Educational infrastructure, Heritage buildings, Sustainable Design, Universitas Diponegoro
Received: 21 May 2025; Accepted: 20 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ahmed Salih Hmdan, Rukayah and Budi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Safwa Ahmed Salih Hmdan, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia
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