Sustainable Refurbishment

The future belongs to smart buildings. They increase amenity for users and safeguard returns for investors, owners and operators. Digital technologies form the basis for new data-based services. They also promote climate protection – for example, by managing heating and hot water more efficiently. Digital retrofitting of established buildings pays off. And one thing that owners and operators certainly need is a cybersecurity strategy: That’s the only way that they ensure safe and secure operation of their buildings.

Established buildings have a reputation for being energy guzzlers. This can be changed with the help of a comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade. The building envelope the building systems inside and the surrounding infrastructure all need upgrading. Better thermal insulation and renewable energy sources are two essential levers in this context. Building materials also play a decisive role: It is not enough to recycle some of the materials. Rather, principals should opt for fully recyclable materials when upgrading established buildings.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many people have spent an increasing amount of time at home. The trend towards mobile working is redefining requirements for office buildings and residential properties.  Even at times when there is no lockdown, large companies are offering their employees the option of mobile, location-independent working. This new way of working reduces the amount of office space required. At the same time, the quality demands made of retained office space are increasing. They need to be state of the art and promote hybrid working and in-office collaboration. This requires employers to develop new office concepts.

The criteria for environmentally and socially responsible corporate governance are increasingly influencing the behavior of economic actors. Although concrete specifications and benchmarks are still missing in some cases, the requirement for organizations to make their behavior transparent is generating pressure. In future, only ESG-compliant properties will maintain or increase their value. For owners of established buildings, it is equally important to invest in climate-friendly technology and materials. The sustainable refurbishment of established properties is particularly attractive for investors from an ESG point of view. And an ESG strategy is certainly required.  

Many production sites have undergone several different modifications over the years. This results in a risk that the usage or building permit is void. Companies in this situation need to act and have their established buildings approved retrospectively. If they fail to do so, their operating license also becomes void.  

But there are plenty of other reasons to modernize established buildings, including shorter product life cycles and changes in the product range. It is also worthwhile for manufacturing companies to take a holistic view of their production site and to plan sustainable refurbishment measures strategically.  

If you have residential real estate in your portfolio, you should make it fit for the future. This involves more than just making the minimum structural and technical investments. If you are intending to sell, a structural or design upgrade allows a higher sale price to be achieved. How does the building stock impact the environment? The ESG criteria and EU taxonomy impose a duty of transparency.  

Densification? Making vacant spaces usable? We develop holistic concepts for residential properties – turning ‘tired’ buildings into refurbished and repositioned buildings with a future.  

Many retail properties suffer from a renovation backlog. This is particularly critical in view of changing customer needs. The shopping experience is important for bricks-and-mortar retail properties. So shopping center operators urgently need a holistic future-oriented strategy. This strategy will be based on the vision of your destination, economic conditions and analysis of the environment. And we offer all these services from a single source! Are the upper levels of your retail property standing empty? Are you planning to repurpose them – for example as apartments, offices or as a hotel? We undertake a feasibility study for you, assessing the various options based on structural, economic and sustainability factors.

With real estate as their core business, property companies have a keen interest in avoiding renovation backlogs and outdated building services equipment. ESG reporting requirements make transparent to what extent property companies meet the criteria for environmentally and socially responsible corporate governance. Buildings with poor energy efficiency lead to high operating and utility costs. Tenants move out – and new ones are difficult to find. In the worst case, a neglected property threatens to become a stranded  asset – in other words, worthless. We support property companies in making their buildings and portfolios fit for the future.

The hospitality industry faces the challenging task of making its properties permanently sustainable for the future. Does the hotel concept have a future? What structural refurbishment measures are necessary to maintain its value and secure the return on investment in the long term? We support hotel owners, operators and investors in developing and implementing sustainable refurbishment strategies for their properties.  

Ever-changing requirements and processes – compounded by fluctuating demand: Companies in the chemicals and life science sectors must implement the necessary complex renovations and conversions in their existing production buildings and laboratories. And they do this with the facilities in full operation. We support our customers in these sectors with the implementation of their modernization, conversion and replacement projects on the basis of state-of-the-art safety standards.