INCREASING STRUCTURAL RESILIENCE: A CASE STUDY OF HOSPITAL RETROFITTING IN ALBANIA

The structural stability of many buildings, including important institutions like hospitals, was seriously affected following the 2019 earthquake in Albania. This paper presents a detailed case study of the retrofitting project undertaken for a hospital in Albania, which experienced significant damage during the earthquake. The primary objective of this project was to restore and improve the hospital’s structural stability, ensuring its functionality in future seismic events. The retrofitting strategy used a combined approach, including reinforced concrete jacketing of the masonry walls, installing steel framing for the masonry openings, and using textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) to strengthen the infill walls. Additionally, new reinforced concrete (R/C) walls were added to improve structural irregularity. These measures are designed to address specific weaknesses identified in the existing hospital structure. This paper discusses the complete assessment of the hospital's structural condition, the design and implementation of retrofitting solutions, and the challenges encountered during the project. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of these retrofit techniques in increasing the seismic performance of the hospital. The findings provide valuable insights and practical recommendations for similar retrofit projects in earthquake-prone regions.