How Long Does a Building Live? A data-driven portrait of urban longevity – USxEU

February, 3rd 2026

Buildings, like living beings, are born, age, and eventually fade away—but their lifespan is far more than a technical detail. It is a critical metric that shapes property valuation, life-cycle assessments, material flow analyses, and even the circular economy in construction. Understanding how long buildings truly endure helps cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimise retrofitting, and embrace sustainability. Yet, despite its importance, empirical data on building lifetimes remains scarce, often relying on outdated estimates or design assumptions rather than real-world observations.

A data-driven portrait of urban longevity

A groundbreaking study—analysing 15,000 demolished buildings across nine U.S. and four European cities—reveals an average lifespan of 71 years (with a standard deviation of 28 years > UE = 65 vs US = 81). This research goes beyond mere averages: it uncovers how usage, materials, and design influence survival, while applying survival analysis techniques to decode the mysteries of building obsolescence.

Key findings: What determines a building’s fate?

• Residential buildings live the longest, outlasting commercial, industrial, or institutional structures.
• A city’s age does not dictate building longevity—demolition trends and economic factors play a far greater role.
• Architectural traits matter: Flat roofs, for instance, tend to shorten a building’s life compared to multidimensional designs.
• Obsolescence is unpredictable: Buildings are often demolished before their technical limits are reached, due to shifting economic viability, owner preferences, or changing urban needs.

Why does this matter?

• Knowing a building’s true lifespan is more than academic—it’s a tool for engineers, policymakers, and urban planners. It informs:
• Environmental impact assessments by estimating embodied carbon and resource use.
• Economic strategies help cities prioritise retrofitting over demolition.
• Circular economy principles by identifying which buildings are most at risk of premature obsolescence.

The human side of concrete and steel

Beyond data, buildings carry emotional and cultural weight. As they age, they gain character, history, and even affection—making their demolition a complex decision. Yet, in cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, or Helsinki, metal structures last ~30 years, while concrete buildings endure nearly twice as long. This disparity highlights how materials and usage shape destiny, much like genetics and lifestyle influence human longevity.

Rethinking the Standard 50-Year Life Cycle

With empirical lifespans averaging 71 years, the traditional 50-year Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) may be due for an update. Countries like the UK already use 60-year projections, reflecting a growing recognition that buildings—like people—often defy expectations.

In practice: what does this mean for cities and developers?

• Retrofitting over rebuilding could extend lifespans, cutting emissions and preserving heritage.
• Data transparency on demolitions can help cities plan smarter, reducing waste and inefficiency.
• Design choices (materials, adaptability) should account for real-world longevity, not just theoretical standards.

Final thought

Buildings are not static objects; they are dynamic participants in urban life. Their lifespan tells a story of adaptation, resilience, and sometimes, untimely endings. For stakeholders like BBCA and LCBI—champions of sustainable construction—this research is a call to design for durability, plan for circularity, and value the hidden lives of our built environment.

Sources & Methodology

Based on a statistical analysis of ~15,000 demolished buildings, survival analysis, and cross-regional comparisons (U.S./Europe) by Juliana Berglund-Brown, Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States; Isaac Dobie, Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States; Jordaina Hewitt, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Catherine De Wolf, Institute of Construction & Infrastructure Management, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; John Ochsendorf, Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States. Published in Buildings & Cities on December 16th of 2025.

Full study available here > https://journal-buildingscities.org/articles/10.5334/bc.588#31-building-lifetimes