Panattoni project in Bischweier receives first DEBV certificate

BTS Mercedes Benz Bischweier_Erstes DEBV-Zertifikat

With the completion of the International Consolidation Center (ICC) for Mercedes-Benz AG, Panattoni Deutschland is repurposing a former industrial wasteland for a new commercial use, taking into account the highest criteria set forth by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB [German Association for Sustainable Building]). The complex surface rehabilitation for the lighthouse project in Bischweier has now been honoured with the newly created Brownfield certificate from the Deutsche Brownfield Verband (DEBV [German Brownfield Society]).

“We are proud that our project in Bischweier is among the first to receive the DEBV certificate. This award is currently still a real rarity on the market,” says Stefan Bohn, Managing Director bei Panattoni Deutschland, pleased about the award. He continues, “We have been in the Deutsche Brownfield Verband for three years and are therefore one of the earliest members. The certification system of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) offers property developers attractive incentives to build their projects in a sustainable manner. With the DEBV certificate, another important signal is being set for the construction industry in order to drive forward the revitalisation of the many unused wastelands in Germany and thus combat the sealing of new surfaces.”

The managing director of the Deutsche Brownfield Verband, Raphael Thießen, says the following. “Sustainability starts with the soil and not with the building. This must be taken into consideration, in particular, those who are already accepting the challenges today in order to help actively design the objective of reducing the use of new surfaces. We are extremely pleased that the first DEBV Brownfield certificate has been issued and awarded to Panattoni.”

The DEBV certification system for Brownfield standards is largely comprised of five central aspects. In addition to the removal of contamination, these include species protection measures, ordinance location and removal and potentially necessary environmental clean-up. Moreover, the disassembly of existing buildings, the disposal of building contaminants like asbestos and recycling of mineral building materials play a new role in the new construction.

Panattoni is developing the ICC, which will act as a central supply point for Mercedes-Benz’ international production network, on the wasteland of a former chipboard factory according to DGNB’s platinum criteria. Around 250,000 tons of mineral demolition material from the original building were recycled and reused for the new building. An 8 MwP photovoltaics system and heat pumps provide the site with low-emissions energy. In addition, more than 40,000 m² of roof surface will be covered in greenery to bind greenhouse gases. Nesting boxes for birds and insects as well as insect-friendly lighting outside the building will help preserve regional species diversity. Deliveries are carried out with electric lorries which can be charged while they are being unloaded.

The Deutsche Brownfield Verband (DEBV) promotes the sustainable revitalisation of wastelands in order to support the objective of having a “net zero surface use by 2050”. It advocates practice-oriented boundary conditions and bundling the interests of all parties involved in the Brownfields. Objectives include, among other things, the development of funding programs, setting up a national wasteland registry and a certification system for cleaned up surfaces. The society was founded on the initiative of Brownfield24 and its work is aimed at bringing more public focus to the high value of Brownfield revitalisation.