From Recycling Center to Office Campus: Drees & Sommer Is Supervising a New Construction Project at Berlin’s Südkreuz Station

Berlin, Germany, October 12, 2026. The construction and operation of buildings account for around 30 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions in Germany.ⁱ In the building sector, emissions even rose again year-on-year in 2025.ⁱⁱ This is a particularly difficult issue for Berlin. The federal state has set itself the target of reducing emissions by 90 percent by 2040, compared with 1990, and aims to reach net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.ⁱⁱⁱ Two Berlin companies owned by the federal state are taking on this responsibility and setting a clear example: Berlin’s public waste management authority (BSR) and Berlinovo Immobilien Gesellschaft mbH are developing the S!nn Campus jointly at Berlin’s Südkreuz station. The building complex, which combines climate-compatible construction and urban innovation under one roof, will consist of BSR’s new head office and berlinovo’s modern multi-tenant high-rise building. Drees & Sommer SE has been providing project supervision support and user project management services for BSR’s head office since 2021. The Stuttgart-based company specializes in consulting on construction, real estate and infrastructure.

BSR and berlinovo are jointly developing two buildings on the site of a former recycling center of Berlin’s state-owned municipal waste management and street cleaning company: part A of the complex includes the new BSR head office with a gross floor area of around 27,700 square meters and a townhall open to the public; part B consists of the 17-story multi-tenant high-rise building of berlinovo of approximately 39,900 square meters, of which about 25,000 square meters will be flexibly rentable space. In this way, berlinovo will be able to make an own future-viable real estate offer to companies from different sectors and of all sizes. Flexible space concepts, modern work environments and a performing digital infrastructure will enable adaptable, long-term use. The two entities are investing a total sum of around 345 million euros in the joint project. The design comes from Vienna-based architectural firm Franz & Sue and Schenker Salvi Weber. The contracts for execution planning and building work were awarded through a construction partner procedure. ZECH Bau SE was commissioned with this work.

Concrete and Timber Based Climate Action

Andreas Thürmer, project head at BSR, commented: “With the S!nn Campus we are creating a place that demonstrates how climate action, innovation and networking can work together in urban development. This is ensured by features such as a hybrid timber structure, climate-friendly energy supply and the use of digital tools, such as for example building information modeling.“

Timber is used throughout the building complex, covering an area of around 3,500 square meters. This renewable raw material is used in hybrid composite slabs, pillars and slatted ceilings. The project relies on geothermal sources for its energy supply. The legislature has recently been actively promoting expansion of this technology through the German Geothermal Energy Facilitation Act (GeoBG). The design includes heat pumps, photovoltaic panels on all roof surfaces and sustainable rainwater management. The aim is Gold certification by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) as proof of sustainable and future-proof construction. This has been confirmed by the pre-certification that has already been completed.

Smart from the Beginning

Digitalization is not an afterthought at the campus; instead, it is an integral element of the planning. The objective is to achieve Smart Score Gold and WiredScore Gold certification for both buildings. WiredScore assesses the digital connectivity of a building, i.e. fiber-optic technology, cellular coverage and system reliability. Smart Score focuses on the entirety of functionality and technological functions of smart buildings. Gold-certified properties satisfy the requirements of all users and offer a high level of digital infrastructure reliability. For tenants and staff this means infrastructure that can evolve alongside future technologies, reliable connectivity and smart building control and management. Planning is based on a defined building information modeling (BIM) scheme, bindingly integrating digital standards right from the first phase of project planning.

“BSR and berlinovo show how a future-proof location – the S!nn Campus – can be created thanks to the cooperation of two state-owned companies. Our multi-tenant building offers flexible work environments and highest standards in terms of sustainability, digital infrastructure and user experience,“ said Wolfgang Falk, head of section and holder of general commercial power at berlinovo.

Another goal for berlinovo’s multi-tenant building is WELL certification. This shifts the focus to the future users’ health, well-being and a comfortable quality of stay, besides ecological sustainability and digital performance.

Two Clients, One Target 

Larissa Martin, who heads the project at Drees & Sommer, said: “A unique aspect of the project is that we have two clients, but we are implementing the project as a single unit. For the planning process, this meant reconciling the needs of different operational businesses.” The company supervises the project and provides user project, process, BIM management and security consulting services. The interdisciplinary approach has been crucial for managing the project’s complexity, identifying risks at an early stage, and bringing both clients into the same direction, despite their differing requirements. All planning, construction and operational processes are included and interconnected within a central digital building model, based on BIM planning. “A digital toolset is particularly important and key to success in large-scale projects with complex interfaces and packages planned in parallel,” explained Larissa Martin. 

The collaboration of BSR und berlinovo goes beyond the joint realization of a construction project. Both state-owned organizations are combining their different operational and property related needs into one integrated development of the site. The S!nn Campus shows how state-owned land can be developed sustainably into a future-proof property through cross-organizational cooperation.

A Milestone within Sight

Construction work started after the official groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on April 13, 2026. Among the guests were Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs, and  Stefan Evers, Senator for Finance. Around 1,000 members of staff will work in BSR’s new head office. Completion of the two buildings is planned for 2029. berlinovo has already started marketing of the rental spaces of its multi-tenant building. Drees & Sommer’s teams of experts are actively involved in the project also during the construction phase.