Building in existing buildings

Building in existing buildings Not only reduces the CO2 footprint by an average of 30% compared to new buildings, but also creates measurable competitive advantages:

• Strategic ESG implementation:
  Reuse of existing structures meets the environmental criteria of rating agencies and reduces compliance risks.

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• Employee retention through room quality:
  Modernized existing buildings have been shown to increase productivity by up to 15%, as a study by Stanford University shows.

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• Conservation of resources
  Significant reduction in material and energy consumption.

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• Continuation of operations
  During restructuring, secures customer relationships and saves revenue losses.

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• Continued use of existing infrastructure
  combined with local location ties, reduces relocation costs and maintains valuable networks with suppliers and customers.

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• CSR image boost with tax power
  ‍by improving employer quality and tax depreciation options.

At first glance, renovation projects that require the removal of pollutants or there are monument requirements often seem complex and challenging. But it is precisely these situations that offer the opportunity to specifically minimize long-term risks and develop sustainable solutions. Even before an investment decision is made, preventive pollutant analyses make it possible to identify hidden contaminated sites in the inventory. In this way, risks can be identified at an early stage and addressed in a targeted manner.

The protection of historical monuments is also no longer an insurmountable obstacle. Modular retrofit solutions, such as prefabricated interior insulation elements, make it possible to make energy improvements and respect the existing building substance, as they do not affect the historic structure or the façade. These innovative approaches and well-thought-out concepts in collaboration with the authorities ensure that the requirements of monument protection are respected while improving the functionality and energy efficiency of the building.

Another crucial aspect is looking at economic efficiency over the entire life cycle of a building. With the help of lifecycle cost models, long-term costs can be presented transparently. In this way, alleged legacy issues become real opportunities for sustainable and economically viable transformations.

Existing construction and sustainable renovation concepts that close material cycles and prioritize energy efficiency will become value drivers:

Real estate portfolios with revitalized existing buildings achieve significantly higher rental prices in prime locations, as commercial tenants increasingly have locations with historical authenticity and prefer transparent sustainability concepts.

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How that Silberpalais Duisburg of the construction and property company NRW shows that more can be achieved through clever use of inventory than pure resource conservation: 1,200 reused furniture, 500 square meters of rescued glass partitions and space savings of 30% prove that the circular economy and modern working environments go hand in hand. The project focuses on sustainable concepts — from shared desk systems to barrier-free design — and thus makes sustainability measurable. A role model for companies that want to transform their spaces in a climate-friendly way without compromising on functionality or aesthetics. Find out how building in existing buildings is a driver for ecological, economic and becomes social goals.

Revitalizing existing properties is not a compromise, but a strategic lever. It combines environmental responsibility with economic resilience — and creates spaces that serve employee loyalty, brand image and compliance requirements in equal measure. While our resources are becoming ever scarcer and their regulations are increasing, this philosophy is becoming the new standard for sustainable construction.

The targeted use of materials from existing buildings transforms commercial real estate into living examples of corporate culture — and at the same time sparks a cycle that combines ecological responsibility with economic benefits.

But how do you identify the hidden potential of doors, floor coverings or furniture and which objects offer not only material but also emotional added value for users? And how can a coherent overall concept be developed from this that relieves building owners in the long term?

The bkp Re-Use-Check provides answers: With our potential analysis, we make it visible how you use existing resources intelligently — for properties that tell a story and Shaping the future.

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