Financial Institutions

Solutions for Finance

How are the banking and insurance sectors changing? How will local consolidations or market mergers affect your real estate strategy? What do you consider when managing real estate portfolios?

Managers from banks and other financial institutions - such as savings banks, cooperative banks and private banks, but also insurers - are united by a variety of different challenges. Some of these result from changing customer needs, others from increased requirements for digitalization, sustainability and corresponding ESG reporting obligations.

Our hands-on experience enables us to deliver individual, dynamic solutions. As an established partner to banks, savings banks, and insurance companies, we deliver individual, dynamic solutions for your needs. We consider local and market insights with close, ongoing collaboration with our clients every step of the way. Our teams, located throughout Germany, provide on-site support and ensure quality from ideation to completion.

Three Roles – One Partner by Your Side

We view financial institutions from three perspectives: as investors, as operating companies, and as lenders. This approach enables us to develop solutions that offer detailed technical expertise while keeping your overall strategy in focus.

The Bank as an Investor – Real Estate as a Capital Asset

To support your focus on yield, risk, and future viability, we provide comprehensive technical, structural, commercial, and energy assessments. Before you invest, our experts inspect the condition of buildings, conduct technical due diligence, and analyze portfolio performance and consolidation options. We build a reliable foundation for your investment decisions and corporate real estate management by integrating sustainability and ESG analyses directly into our evaluations, including transition risks and regional factors.

The Bank as a Corporate Entity – Business Operations and Organization

We help you align your workspaces with your business model, teams, and clients by guiding you through branch network consolidation, modernization, location decisions, and asset transfers. Together, we develop modern workplace concepts, space-utilization strategies, and decarbonization roadmaps for your existing portfolio. We ensure your real estate, organization, and brand align perfectly by evaluating energy-efficiency measures and planning targeted renovations or new builds.

The Bank as a Lender – Green Loan Books and Risk

We assist you in evaluating real estate projects from a risk and regulatory perspective, providing crucial support when market conditions shift or developments face financial distress. By consistently incorporating regulatory requirements and ESG criteria, we establish a reliable data foundation – from initial collection and quality assurance to final analysis. This approach strengthens your green loan book and makes risks within your existing portfolio fully transparent.

Current Challenges for Financial Institutions

Financial institutions are under commercial, regulatory, and real estate pressure. Many banks are currently consolidating their branch networks, reassessing location and space requirements, and questioning the role of their headquarters and regional offices. At the same time, the profitability of proprietary project developments is coming into focus, making cost and schedule certainty a high priority.

At the same time, demands for carbon neutrality and ESG compliance are rising across investment funds and proprietary portfolios. Strategic real estate planning must include EV charging infrastructure, energy-efficiency measures, and decarbonization roadmaps.

Real estate financing introduces additional risk as project developments stall and non-performing loans rise. Meanwhile, banks and insurers are pushing to digitalize their core business, customer interactions, and physical spaces.

We help you connect all these topics: from your branch strategy and building portfolio to your loan book.

Consolidation and Merging

When banks or competitors merge, parties will face fundamental changes to internal structures, processes, and spaces. We support our clients with specialized, independent consulting to help you navigate these decisions. Whether constructing a new building or converting an existing property, we take responsibility for your project. Our expertise ranges from site selection and architectural competition to construction management and commissioning.

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New Work

The workplace is transforming rapidly. Especially banks and insurers are required to adapt to digital and remote operations. We help you take advantage of these changes by rethinking work environments and methods, which are critical in times of skilled labor shortages.

Our creative experts specialize in dynamic spatial design and innovative, multifunctional concepts. They combine functional solutions with aesthetics and sustainable materials. Just as importantly, we also guide change communication with current employees and stakeholders.

By making your brand experience tangible for staff and clients, we help strengthen team spirit, innovation, and opportunities for success, thereby assisting clients in attracting skilled talent.

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Sustainability

The future value of real estate depends on its sustainable properties. If your portfolio needs to catch up, our experts offer comprehensive advice and identify measures to maintain your portfolio’s value.

For example, when retrofitting properties for energy efficiency, we manage the entire project process, from analysis to planning and implementation. We also support the issuance of green bonds and help you implement zero-carbon strategies and comply with ESG standards.

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Digitalization

What’s new for banks, savings banks, and insurance companies? Developing digital business models and client-centric communication aren’t new concepts. The real challenge lies in implementing these strategies effectively. To succeed, everyone involved needs a solid understanding of current developments and strong implementation skills.

Additionally, new building requirements are challenging the status quo. Future buildings must be digital and smart, designed to support collaboration, communication, and security. Our experts will support your digital transformation.

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Real Estate Strategy

Revitalization? Sale? Expansion? Decisions like these require reliable insight into cost, risk, and potential. We analyze your assets and develop life-cycle-based strategies tailored to your portfolio.

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Project Development – (Re)Building: The Old and the New

Aiming to construct a new building or revitalize an existing one? We guide clients through every step – from analyzing demands and locations to construction, project management and operations. All developments, including multifunctional concepts, align with the long-term real estate strategy.

Your benefits:

Sustainable Real Estate Value: You benefit from real estate strategies that combine commercial goals with sustainability, securing the long-term value of your properties and reducing risk.
Greater Profitability and Efficiency: You lower costs and increase the performance of your real estate portfolio through optimized space utilization, clear portfolio structures, and data-driven investment decisions.
Confidence in Transformation and Regulation: You receive reliable support navigating ESG requirements, regulatory mandates, and complex change processes, backed by practical implementation and industry experience.
Future-Ready Locations and Workspaces: You create properties that win over clients, support your employees, and clearly project your institution's identity to the world.
Everything from a Single Source: You are supported throughout the entire real estate lifecycle – from initial strategy and analysis to planning, project management, and successful implementation.
Extensive Project Experience: You benefit from our years of experience across numerous successful projects. We know the critical levers and ensure secure, efficient execution.

Primary vs. Secondary Assets

High vacancy rates, falling values and ever-stricter regulatory requirements present major challenges for investors and owners of so-called secondary assets while also requiring some crucial decisions.

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SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

Financial markets drove a resource-heavy, fossil-fueled global economy for decades. Today, the EU Taxonomy and new regulatory mandates are completely changing that dynamic, leading to surging demand for green financial products, so-called green bonds. These investments accelerate decarbonization, protect biodiversity, cut carbon emissions, and enforce fair production standards. The goal is to build future-proof businesses and make a tangible impact on environmental protection.

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Real Estate Financing Under Scrutiny

Fenced-off vacant lots, half-finished buildings, zero signs of construction. When developers run into financial trouble, project planning and execution grind to a halt. This also puts intense pressure on financiers, as banks and mezzanine lenders have a vested interest in seeing their investments become concrete reality.

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“The best strategy starts with the right understanding – of the market, regulatory requirements, and clients.”

Robert Göötz Global Head of Financial Institutions

Press 10/02/2025

Drees & Sommer joins forces with VVA Project & Cost Manager

Drees & Sommer joins forces with VVA (from left to right): Kenneth Wood (Managing Director of Drees & Sommer UK and Partner of Drees & Sommer), Lorenzo Vascotto (Founding Member and Partner of VVA), Dana Panzarino (Partner of VVA), Marc D. Chiapperino (Partner of VVA), Philipp Späth (Partner of Drees & Sommer), Steffen Szeidl (Chief Executive Officer and Partner of Drees & Sommer), Adam Kavanagh (Partner of VVA), Chris Petryshin (Partner of VVA) and Kevin Gold (Partner of VVA) © VVA – Part of Drees & Sommer, Drees & Sommer

Stuttgart, New York, 10.02.2025. Drees & Sommer SE, a consulting company specializing in construction, real estate and infrastructure, is continuing its global expansion. With the merger with the US-based company VVA, founded in 1994, the German company is strengthening its position in the North American market. As a specialist in project management and cost consulting, VVA, headquartered in New York, offers interdisciplinary consulting services to clients at 12 locations. "The integration of VVA is an important milestone in our growth strategy," says Steffen Szeidl, Chief Executive Officer of Drees & Sommer. "Together we can further expand our expertise in the USA and provide even more comprehensive support to our local clients."

The merger became legally effective on January 31, 2025, and supports Drees & Sommer's global strategy. The company currently employs more than 6,500 people in 63 offices worldwide and has increasingly focused on international markets in recent years. With more than 100 employees, VVA has a broad customer base across a wide range of sectors. The company will operate under the name VVA - Part of Drees & Sommer.

Steffen Szeidl, Chief Executive Officer: "We are thrilled about our merger with VVA, a widely recognized leader in the fields of project management and cost management in the U.S. This merger brings together two strong companies with shared values and philosophies. Together, we will strengthen our market position, unlock new growth opportunities, and deliver even better solutions to our customers on a global scale. This partnership marks a significant milestone on our journey into the future."

"We are confident that this merger will create exciting opportunities for our customers, VVA and us," says Philipp Späth, Partner of Drees & Sommer. "We will combine our strengths and expand our reach, both globally and locally. This will allow us to offer our customers a broader range of services, expanding into new markets."

Kenneth Wood, Partner of Drees & Sommer, adds: “Our experience with the merger with AA Projects in the UK in 2022 has shown us the immense potential that such partnerships can unlock. This new merger with our American partner is another step in our strategy to become an international company. We are confident that this collaboration will drive innovation, enhance our service portfolio for both sides and deliver value for our customers across all markets.”

Synergies from local and global expertise

VVA supports its clients in the United States with a wide range of project management and cost consulting services. The service offer includes initial project and cost planning, due diligence, site selection, detailed cost estimates, procurement and bid management, design oversight, construction administration and cost control. VVA has supported international companies such as SONY and Allianz Global Invest to relocate their US headquarters to New York.

Lorenzo Vascotto, Founder and Managing Director of VVA, sees synergies for both companies in the merger: "The combination of our local expertise and Drees & Sommer's broad range of services strengthens our position in the market and opens up new opportunities." Vascotto is positive about the merger: “Due to the partnership structure of both companies, there are many similarities in corporate culture and philosophy. Our shared vision is to further develop the North American market with a focus on real estate and industry, and to support larger projects.”

Cross-selling and knowledge transfer between markets

According to Steffen Szeidl, the integration of VVA also opens up new cross-selling opportunities. "We can introduce American best practices into European projects and thus promote the transfer of knowledge between the two markets," says Szeidl. He sees this as an important stabilizing factor for European customers, especially in a dynamic market environment.

Drees & Sommer plans to further expand its presence in the USA in the coming years. In addition to supporting existing clients, new business areas are to be developed in the real estate, infrastructure and industrial sectors. Alongside project management and construction cost consultancy, the portfolio will include services in the areas of digitalization and sustainability.

About VVA:

VVA is a national independent Project & Cost Management firm comprised of seasoned professionals offering a full range of project & cost management, advisory and technical services within the real estate & construction industry. VVA was founded in New York City in 1994 and has steadily grown to include offices beyond New York in Boston, Westchester/Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Florida, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, and the UK. As industry veterans, VVA’s philosophy is to partner with clients and become an integral part of their organization, providing the specialized expertise and resources needed to lead the project effort for the duration of the assignment. We pride ourselves on not only delivering our clients’ projects on schedule and within budget, but also providing the highest quality service and return on investment possible.

VVA: Project Management & Cost Management Company

About Drees & Sommer:
Uniting opposites to create a world we want to live in.
Drees & Sommer is a partner-managed, global consulting company providing a single source of consultation and implementation services for the real estate, infrastructure and industrial markets. The company delivers sustainable, innovative, and economically viable solutions that meet each client’s unique needs. Founded in 1970 and long recognized as a pioneer in driving sustainability and digitization, today Drees & Sommer employs more than 6,000 people at 63 offices. The company’s interdisciplinary teams are involved in around 6,500 projects worldwide, working to create a livable future and unite concepts which can at face value appear to be opposites: tradition and future, economy and ecology, analog and digital, efficiency and well-being. As ‘intrapreneurs’, the Drees & Sommer Partners are personally responsible for managing the company.