Brownfield Development (11.4.9)

Preference for building on brownfield sites to minimise land degradation and preserve natural areas.

Introduction:

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) adopts a sustainable approach to land-use planning by prioritizing brownfield development over greenfield expansion.
Brownfield development ensures that construction and renovation activities occur within previously used or disturbed land areas, thereby:

minimizing land degradation,
• protecting surrounding natural environments,
• reducing pressure on agricultural and ecological zones,
• preventing unnecessary urban sprawl, and
• supporting SDG11 targets for sustainable cities and responsible land-use planning.

This approach is grounded in both the Sustainable Building and Campus Planning Policy and the Sustainable Building Standards Procedure, which require all new projects to evaluate land suitability, environmental impact, and ecosystem preservation.

AAU’s planning decisions favor redevelopment, renovation, and vertical expansion on existing built zones rather than occupying untouched natural land ensuring that campus growth remains environmentally responsible and spatially efficient.

Centers and Departments:

January
01

1. General Supplies & Services Department

Leads site selection, land-use assessments، renovation planning، and ensures new construction occurs on pre-used land whenever possible.

January
01

2. Faculty of Architecture & Design

Provides research, studies, and planning alternatives that focus on infill development, adaptive reuse, and redesign of existing campus spaces.

January
01

3. Sustainability & International Ranking Center (SIRC)

Monitors SDG11 land-use indicators, evaluates brownfield compliance, and documents sustainable campus expansion strategies.

January
01

4. Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research (HCASR)

Conducts environmental impact assessments and studies of soil quality, ecological sensitivity, and land rehabilitation opportunities.

January
01

5. Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)

Supports innovative solutions for adaptive reuse of existing structures and brownfield transformation into productive campus spaces.

Activities:

January
01

1. Visit to the “Ezzat Marji” Green-Certified Building (Adaptive Reuse Example)

Students learned about how green-certified buildings integrate adaptive reuse principles and sustainable land occupation.

January
01

2. National Housing Study – Focus on Efficient Land Use

AAU’s participation in the advisory housing study contributed to discussions on density, sustainable land occupation, and preventing unnecessary expansion into natural areas.

January
01

3. Field Visits to Historical Sites – Learning from Compact, Efficient Urban Patterns

Urban heritage areas like Jerash and Al-Qala’a served as models of compact cities with efficient reuse of land across centuries.

January
01

4. Workshop: “Women on the Green Path” – Sustainable Land and Community Planning

Included discussions on land-efficiency, preventing sprawl, and using existing community spaces before expanding outward.

January
01

4. AI-Based Design Workshops – Modeling Vertical and Compact Development

Students used AI tools to simulate urban expansion scenarios, choosing compact, brownfield-friendly development patterns.

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan

A. Performance Evaluation

Structured Assessment Tools

AAU uses:
• land-use suitability assessments,
• environmental impact evaluation tools,
• brownfield feasibility studies,
• GIS-based mapping of built vs. natural land,
• soil and ecological analyses.

2. Annual Assessment Cycles

Annually, AAU reviews:
• % of new projects built on previously developed land,
• rehabilitation of aging buildings,
• reduction in greenfield expansion,
• environmental impacts of new construction,
• ecological preservation outcomes.

Quantitative & Qualitative Indicators

% of campus area protected from new land disturbance,
• # of buildings renovated instead of rebuilt,
• # of infill development projects,
• biodiversity and soil-quality metrics,
• qualitative stakeholder evaluations.

B. Integration with Curriculum & Research

Brownfield development principles are embedded in:
• sustainable architecture studios,
• environmental planning courses,
• adaptive reuse research projects،
• campus redesign proposals,
• urban land-efficiency modeling using AI.

C. Transparency & Public Reporting

Data on campus land development are published in:
• AAU Sustainability Report 2024–2025
• SDG11 Executive Sustainability Report
• AAU Sustainability Portal

B. Development Actions

Action 1: Brownfield Priority Rule

Mandate that all new AAU construction must prioritize brownfield sites.
Target: 100% implementation by 2027.

Action 2: Campus Infill Development Program

Identify unused or underutilized campus zones for vertical expansion.
Target: 3 infill projects by 2026.

Action 3: Adaptive Reuse & Renovation Initiative

Renovate outdated buildings instead of replacing them.
Target: renovate 5 major structures by 2028.

Action 4: Natural Area Preservation Framework

Designate protected zones within AAU’s lands that cannot be developed.
Target: preserve 100% of natural or ecologically sensitive areas.

Action 5: Soil Rehabilitation & Green Recovery Project

Rehabilitate brownfield areas using native vegetation and soil-restoration techniques.
Target: treat 2 degraded areas annually.

C. Benchmarking & Best Practice

AAU benchmarks brownfield strategies with:
• University of British Columbia – Sustainable Land-Use Planning
• University of Melbourne – Compact Campus Development
• University of Cambridge – Heritage-Adaptive Reuse Models
• University of Gothenburg – Ecological Urban Development

Best Practices Implemented:
• vertical expansion instead of land sprawl
• rehabilitation of existing structures
• environmental impact monitoring
• compact and efficient land-use models
• data-driven land planning

Localized to Jordan’s Context:
Aligned with:
• Jordan National Land-Use Strategy
• Ministry of Public Works & Housing guidelines
• AAU Sustainable Building Standards Procedure
https://www.ammanu.edu.jo/Sustainability/Files/Sustainable%20Building%20Standards%20Procedure.pdf

Institutional Integration Summary

AAU ensures that campus development remains environmentally responsible through brownfield-focused planning.
By prioritizing redevelopment, vertical expansion, and adaptive reuse, AAU protects natural areas, minimizes land degradation, and strengthens Jordan’s transition toward sustainable urban development directly advancing SDG11.