Groundbreaking ceremony for the Greenity Gate: Where sustainability sets the standards for the future
Logistics hall in Guntramsdorf as an ecological showcase project
IG Immobilien, a long-term provider of property construction, operation, and management services, started construction work on the Greenity Gate project yesterday with a ground-breaking ceremony. In 2025, IG Immobilien will offer one of the most progressive commercial projects in Austria with the Greenity Gate. During the planning phase, it was awarded the DGNB platinum pre-certificate, which is currently the highest sustainability standard. The existing 35,000m² site on Industriestraße in Guntramsdorf will be completely refurbished in line with the latest ecological standards.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by numerous guests, including Mayor Robert Weber, Gerald Herndlhofer, Drees & Sommer, Markus Handler, Handler Group, Thomas Rau and Sabine Oberhuber, turntoo. The management of IG Immobilien, Paul Grassel and Hubert Vögel, launched the pioneering project at this ceremony. “The Greenity Gate is a clear sign that the future of the construction and real estate industry lies in the circular economy and that sustainable development is no longer a marginal issue but is key in moving toward a greener and more responsible real estate industry,” Grassel and Vögel both stressed.
There is no way around the circular economy
IG Immobilien will use the Madaster material register from the planning phase of this project for the first time. Madaster records data on all materials and products used in a building. “If a building is designed to be flexible and reusable in accordance with the circular economy principle and the materials are easy to dismantle, can be separated by type, and are thus fully recyclable, buildings become long-lasting and valuable raw material depots. The resources can be released again at the end of their useful life and therefore contribute to maintaining the value of the property,” says Thomas Rau, founder and Managing Director of RAU architects and turntoo, when explaining the vision of the circular economy.
New standards in ecological sustainability
“The Greenity Gate commercial property not only guarantees existing structures will be modernized, but also sets new standards in terms of ecological sustainability,” explains Grassel. The facility will comprise a total of around 11,000m² of hall space and 1,100m² of office space, supplemented by covered parking spaces and e-charging infrastructure for sprinters, cars, and bicycles. “The Greenity Gate is a forward-looking project that meets the needs of modern companies. Its CO2-neutral operation, use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and a large-scale photovoltaic system with energy storage mean it sets new standards in energy-efficient business,” adds Grassel.
High material-ecological standard
“The Greenity Gate in Guntramsdorf is a flagship project for the commercial and logistics sector and it meets the highest standards in terms of sustainability, as documented by the Building Circularity Passport and Madaster entry,” explains Gerald Herndlhofer, Managing Director of Drees & Sommer, IG Immobilien’s partner for planning and project management. “While planning the project, we tried to create the conditions for recording and reporting the carbon footprint of the materials used and the building as a whole.”
Central concept of the circular economy
All materials used were carefully selected for their recyclability and ecological impact. There was also a focus on the ability to demolish structures and no additional ground surfaces are sealed; instead, existing areas are given a natural feel once more by optimizing open spaces. “The work will be carried out in prefabrication, which will result in rapid construction and therefore reduce construction time. There is also a focus on using secondary raw materials, such as foam glass gravel as insulation material for the floor slabs, which consists of 100% recycled waste glass,” explains Markus Handler, CEO of the Handler Group, which is responsible for the entire construction as general contractor. The two-story office wing is being built with clay building boards, which is a modern ecological product for interior construction that also has a moisture-regulating effect. Secondary concrete is used wherever possible and the roof beams from the old building were carefully dismantled, recycled, and reused in another building.
