Video statement: Steffen Szeidl.
Stuttgart, Germany, May 7, 2025. The first project for the construction of a Type E building in the German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg will be implemented at the headquarters of the consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE in Stuttgart’s Vaihingen district. It is also the largest office complex ever built in line with this future-oriented approach in Germany. “For its pilot project, which was devised as a Type E building, we are providing support for Drees & Sommer as it strikes out in a new direction. The letter ‘E’ stands for ‘easy’, ‘efficient’ and ‘experimental’ Other builder-owners and planners will benefit from the experiences gained in the pilot project in order to make construction in Stuttgart simpler and faster,“ comments Peter Pätzold, Mayor for Urban Development, Housing, and Environment of the State Capital City of Stuttgart.
The intention with the planned Type E building is that it should be possible to deviate from many standards and regulations of the construction sector. For deviations from recognized technical rules in particular, clients and planners can agree that for the construction of this type of building these standards do not have to be followed. Peter Pätzold says: “Rules originally intended to guarantee safety and quality are indeed making things quite complex. A maze of construction regulations and standards is often more of a hindrance than a help, and leaves little room for innovative approaches to affordable and climate-friendly building design.” In Germany, many aspects of construction are regulated in detail, from the thickness of the walls to the number of electrical sockets or the height of hand rails. There are currently around 20,000 construction standards that have to be complied with on a construction project.
Flagship Project for Construction with Recycling Materials
Peter Pätzold, Stuttgart’s Mayor with responsibility for construction, sees Drees & Sommer’s plan as a very good pilot project. He believes it will highlight areas where there can be issues regarding warranties and the approval of materials for use in construction – especially recycled building materials – which have to be resolved later. Even the application of lower construction standards can show what is possible and justifiable.
Triple Role of Owner-Builder, Planner and User as an Ideal Starting Position
Currently more than 6,000 employees of Drees & Sommer are involved in around 6,500 construction, real estate and infrastructure projects. So, Stuttgart-based consulting company Drees & Sommer is very well prepared for the pilot project. Steffen Szeidl, Executive Board Member of Drees & Sommer, point out: “We are owner-builder, planner and later also user of the new office building. This is an ideal starting position for the building Type E approach. With this project, we intent to demonstrate feasibility and economic viability of ecological construction. Our triple role in the project dispenses with tedious coordination processes, but also the liability issues that arise with the Type E building when the focus is on new solutions.“
The very first draft of a design for the new building, which is named THE NEW 22, was obtained by means of an internal architecture competition in which several design teams competed against each other. Thomas Berner, project head of the construction project, explains: “It was organized as professionally as any external competition for a client. The construction site is predefined due to the presence of the adjacent buildings. The new complex will be located on Drees & Sommer’s campus, in the middle of other buildings. The aim is that the new building should be connected to the existing buildings in terms of its design as well as fitting in with the urban development plan. The central requirement was therefore that the idea of a networked campus be apparent all aspects of the design: from the architecture through to aspects such as circularity within the meaning of the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ principle, energy transition and autonomy, and modularity. We are currently in close communication with the building control office to determine what can be implemented innovatively. When everything is in place, we will publish the details,“ adds Thomas Berner. However, it is sure that the complex will offer a flexibly designed, modern event area with a modern cafeteria for staff members and guests. Offices and workplaces will be located on the upper floors.
High Benchmark
“When the neighboring flagship project OWP12 was realized on the campus all participants very constructively worked together. So, there is an excellent basis of trust for our new project,“ says Steffen Szeidl. In close collaboration with the City of Stuttgart and the building control office, Drees & Sommer has already set new standards outside the federal state for OWP12, the new building completed on its campus in 2021. Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of the German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg hailed the consistent focus on the sustainable design of the OWP 12 complex as an inspiration of future construction projects: “Landmark projects such as Drees & Sommer's new building show how the transformation to a sustainable and climate conscious construction culture can succeed.“ The net plus-energy building, which has earned several awards, generates more energy than it consumes in operation, supported by a highly insulating façade, photovoltaic systems and geothermal energy. The green façade covers more than 100 square meters and works also on the northern side of the building. In addition, the materials have been selected in line with the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ principle. This ensures the building's recyclability and the absence of harmful substances. “One thing is for sure: the benchmark of the new Type E building is high,” underlines Drees & Sommer Executive Board Member Steffen Szeidl.