The last decades witnessed a rapid digital transformation showing how
smart technologies and computational design are rapidly changing
buildings, cities, and communities. Transformation of ordinary existing
non-smart buildings into smart or semi-smart ones is important, to
ensure enhancing the performance of buildings in the structure of smart
cities. The presented study aims to identify a model for retrofitting
existing ordinary buildings to become smart. The research focuses on
smart buildings dimensions and indicators to be applied to existing
buildings to make them more intelligent and smarter to be integrated
into the smart city context. The research methodology encompasses
three parts: a critical literature review for dimensions of smart buildings.
Then an analytical approach illustrating case studies for smart retrofitted
buildings. In addition to a descriptive-analytical approach that proposes
a decision-making model based on Analytical Hierarchical Process
(AHP) for retrofitting ordinary buildings into smart ones. Results point
out the viability of such transformation in coping with the digital era and
identify the necessities in turning ordinary buildings into smart ones to
enhance sustainability for cities and communities.