the blue way

Over three floors, the Innovation Hub offers space for innovation and exchange. Visitors experience an industrial character, sustainable conversion, and a future-oriented work culture, combined with engineering expertise.

To enable a circular economy, we use safe, reusable building materials. Alongside like-minded partners, we developed Building Material Scout, a digital platform that collects and categorizes material data for industry stakeholders.

LCM Digital is a web-based platform that manages planning and construction processes efficiently.

Buildings will adapt to match the ever-changing needs of their users. We connect workplace design, architecture, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness into smooth user experiences.

We guide ICT clients through digital transformation with an economic lens. Our experts align IT and construction trends and turn them into viable strategies.

Germany's roads need constant repair. Every year, poor construction quality costs over two billion euros. 

As lead partner of the SmartSite research project, we support the shift to digital road construction. Objectives include cloud-based control of road construction machinery and higher efficiency with fewer resources. 

Urban growth demands interdisciplinary planning. More and more people are moving to cities, but urban development creates new demands. These challenges require interdisciplinary cooperation, including the economy, environment, infrastructure, mobility, digitalization, community, and design.

Using “the blue way” as our baseline, we design Blue City – Integrated Urban Solutions. We integrate individual elements to create holistic solutions that meet our clients' needs. For example, we develop the infrastructure and mobility concepts that municipalities and companies use to stay resilient and competitive.

Building must be connected, energy self-sufficient, emission-free, healthy, integrated, and flexible. What keeps them from becoming real Blue Buildings? Operational efficiency. Digital Blue integrates digitalization for higher efficiency.  

 In line with our spirit of “the blue way”, we integrate digital design with Building Information Modeling (BIM), modular construction, and Lean Construction Management. Digitalization also benefits our Cradle to Cradle® principles. The material passport contains all relevant materials and designs for construction and the environment.

In 2021, Germany consumed roughly 600 million kWh of electricity. About 44 % came from industry, commerce, and trade. About 28 % came through transportation, while 28 % came from private households. Approximately 80 % came from fossil fuels (i.e., coal, gas, and oil) and nuclear plants. 

Germany wants to shift to renewable energy sources, up to at least 50 % by 2030 and 80 % by 2050. This requires a holistic approach: we need to reduce energy use while also integrating new technologies and concepts for energy production and storage. We also need to ensure efficient and smart power distribution. 

“the blue way” integrates these elements into real operations. The policy and energy sectors must work together to make renewable energy accessible and competitive in the market. These developments require an overhaul of funding policies and of the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG). 

Most established properties have one major flaw: They are too expensive. Tenants decline. To improve performance, change is inevitable. But how can we plan and implement these changes while remaining economically viable?

“the blue way” is the way to go. With “the blue way,” we align renovations with clients’ strategies and conduct multi-stage analyses. We ensure our clients know their options and can choose the best for their specific needs. We offer a holistic perspective and tailored recommendations, and implement the measures as desired. Our goal: creating more economic value than before without wasted resources. 

Regarding sustainability and green building, we have heard it countless times: stakeholders want to understand sustainability but lack guidance. 

We made it simple and tangible. To fill knowledge gaps, we launched an educational campaign. Since Expo Real 2008, we have organized lectures, events, press releases, and our own book, Green Building. Today, sustainable construction is standard across the real estate sector. 

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) was founded in Stuttgart in 2007. As a founding member, we helped shape standards for environmentally friendly and user-focused buildings. These principles align with “the blue way.”

An important characteristic of “the blue way”: smooth cooperation between all project partners. This increases project quality and success. With PCMS, partners access data and documents in one place – enabling faster decisions, lower costs, and better planning.

In 1999, we took a new approach to energy saving in our new administrative building in Stuttgart, Germany.

Reduced heat demand, increased geothermal energy 

At Obere Waldplätze 11, we lowered heating demand through insulated facades and triple-glazed windows. We integrated heating and cooling pipes into concrete slabs to create large radiators via concrete-core temperature control. With geothermal energy from boreholes about 80 m deep, the building consumes only 20 % of the standard energy level and cuts carbon emissions by 50 %. 

Obere Waldplätze 11 is a pioneer: a pleasant, wholesome model for sustainability. The building reduces operational costs without significantly increasing overall investment. 

The DGNB awarded Gold certification for New Buildings in 2009, ten years after completion, and Gold Certification for Established Buildings in 2011. 

In 1992, we developed an eco-management strategy for the construction of Potsdamer Platz. Daimler AG commissioned the project. Sustainability became an integral part of project management.  

Lower heat consumption 

Solid thermal insulation and solar energy reduced the heating demand of buildings significantly at Potsdamer Platz. We designed sophisticated facades with natural ventilation for all office buildings, including high-rises. They save up to 50 % more energy than conventional A/C systems.  

Reduced carbon emissions 

A cogeneration plant supplies the Potsdamer Platz and the neighboring Leipziger Platz. Its waste heat covers all heating and cooling demands. The result? About 75 % less carbon emissions than originally planned. 

Eco-friendly resources 

We introduced standards for safe and recyclable building materials. Our eco-manual guided essential trades and eliminated over 22 t of HCFCs. In 2012, Potsdamer Platz became the first established district to receive the DGNB silver certificate – recognizing the impact of “the blue way.” 

After the oil crises of 1973 and 1979, we searched for smart, more sustainable energy solutions. We developed a mathematical model that simulates a building’s energy demand before construction begins. Clients gain clarity early and can design buildings to use as little energy as possible.