Berlin, Germany, July 23, 2026. Potsdamer Platz is among the most famous squares in Berlin. It symbolizes the reunification of a divided Germany like no other neighborhood. What was once wasteland, destroyed during the Second World War and later cut in two by the Berlin Wall, then developed into a diverse urban district in the 1990s. For its high level of sustainability, the district was awarded a gold certification for new urban quarters from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e. V.) in 2011. Drees & Sommer SE was entrusted with the certification of the existing district under the new DGNB system. The experts from the consulting firm, which specializes in construction, real estate and infrastructure, carried out an assessment analysis, the pre-check and the audit processes. Re-certification started in October 2023 and was concluded with the presentation of a gold award in September 2025.
Katharina Treiber commented: “The neighborhood was designed with the long term in mind right from the beginning, as shown by a consistent sustainability strategy and its re-certification.” She is Senior Vice President Asset Management at Brookfield Properties, owner’s representative of 16 of the 17 properties making up the neighborhood. Lisa Momper, who heads the project at Drees & Sommer, added: “For us above all, the project indicates that the existing stock of buildings can be part of the future, if we take the stock seriously, thoroughly assess the properties, and continue to develop them consistently.” The company was strongly involved in the redesign of Potsdamer Platz in the 1990s.
Climate Action Plans for Climate Neutrality and Green Leases for Future-Minded Tenants
The Potsdamer Platz quarter extends over an area of 12.7 hectares. The square features a landmarked building dating from 1912 and offers representative office spaces. There are shops, restaurants, pubs, cafés, hotels and apartments. Potsdamer Platz has become a vibrant hub for work and leisure due to its diverse types of use.
Climate action plans have been developed for all 16 buildings under Brookfield Properties' management, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2045. Katharina Treiber said: “The measures defined in these plans include an annual reduction in electricity, water, heating and cooling consumption by one percent each. In addition, green leases have been signed since 2023.“ In sustainability-based lease agreements, landlords and tenants jointly establish measures to reduce energy and resource consumption and to improve the environmental performance of properties.
Among the special features of the sustainable district is its innovative rainwater management. It enables the water to be re-used for plant watering and, to some extent, for flushing toilets. An underground utility and disposal center helps improve the district's sustainability and efficiency. Other aspects are urban planning and first-class transport links. Lisa Momper explained: “Conversion of Alte Potsdamer Strasse into a pedestrian zone enhances the quality of stay and strengthens integration within the neighborhood. This re-certification underlines that sustainability does not end when a new building is completed, but continues in existing buildings.“
Milestone for Certification of Existing Districts
Certifying urban districts, such as Potsdamer Platz, with sustainability seals of quality is not an end in itself, but pays off in several ways: the smart use of resources, such as electricity and water, can lead to cost savings, which benefits users. This also improves the attractiveness and the value of the properties located there.
Until now, DGNB district certification has been available solely for new construction projects. With the completion of the pilot phase in 2025, existing districts and those undergoing transformation can now be certified using the market version for the first time. In doing so, the German Sustainable Building Council takes into account the variety of urban use types. Different profiles have been developed based on the main focus of use: urban districts; business districts; commercial areas; and industrial sites.
