01General Supplies & Services Department
Leads site selection, land-use assessments، renovation planning، and ensures new construction occurs on pre-used land whenever possible.
Contact Office On
1111.4.9
Brownfield Development
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
02Faculty of Architecture & Design
Provides research, studies, and planning alternatives that focus on infill development, adaptive reuse, and redesign of existing campus spaces.
03Sustainability & International Ranking Center (SIRC)
Monitors SDG11 land-use indicators, evaluates brownfield compliance, and documents sustainable campus expansion strategies.
04Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research (HCASR)
Conducts environmental impact assessments and studies of soil quality, ecological sensitivity, and land rehabilitation opportunities.
05Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)
Supports innovative solutions for adaptive reuse of existing structures and brownfield transformation into productive campus spaces.
Activities
01Visit 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.
02National 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.
03Field 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.
04Workshop: “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.
04AI-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.
