BelForm GmbH & Co. KG has launched a digital conversion cockpit that calculates the economic viability of repurposing projects in just a few steps. This tool was developed in cooperation with Professor Dr. Thomas Beyerle from Hochschule Biberach and serves to optimise the decision-making process for the conversion of existing properties.
The cockpit was first publicly presented on 22nd September 2026 as part of a free online webinar. The target audience included investors, asset managers, project developers, property owners and operators. Furthermore, the underlying assessment methodology will be integrated into the curriculum at Hochschule Biberach from October of the same year, with students applying it to further conversion projects.
Vacant office spaces hold significant potential for new uses, with conversion into apartments often being a considered option. However, it should be noted that not every office building is suitable for repurposing from an economic perspective. Key factors influencing feasibility include, for example, building depth, lighting conditions, grid dimensions and approval viability. Previously, such assessments were mostly conducted on a case-by-case basis, with considerable effort and often only in advanced project phases. The conversion cockpit shifts this assessment to the beginning of the process.
Users input the relevant key data for their property and receive a structured evaluation of the initial situation, potential risks and relevant opportunities. The assessment considers a wide range of factors, from location and building to structural and regulatory requirements, as well as sustainability aspects and economic viability. In addition, key economic figures such as conversion costs, rental income and financing conditions are integrated to enable a sound return estimation. The tool also analyses the reliability of the existing data basis and identifies the greatest levers for the respective project.
Benjamin Oeckl, Managing Director of BelForm GmbH & Co. KG, explained that the crucial question for any conversion is whether it is financially viable and what might cause it to fail. The cockpit provides both answers within minutes and also indicates their certainty. He stressed that while the tool does not replace a feasibility study, it does show whether a conversion is fundamentally worthwhile.
Already in May 2026, BelForm, in collaboration with Professor Dr. Thomas Beyerle, conducted an evaluation of 128 existing properties regarding their conversion potential. Professor Dr. Beyerle noted that the structural initial situation was often better than initially assumed. Two-thirds of the examined buildings were within a manageable investment corridor for conversions in terms of their structural fabric. At the same time, approval issues, ESG requirements or building geometry are crucial for a property's actual suitability. The conversion cockpit makes it possible to consider these different factors early and comprehensively.
- —Digital assessment of the economic viability of conversion projects.
- —Developed by BelForm GmbH & Co. KG in collaboration with Hochschule Biberach.
- —Consideration of location, building structure, planning law and economic viability.
- —Early identification of risks and potentials.
During the webinar "From Vacancy to Leased Apartment – the Conversion Q&A" on 22nd September 2026 from 11:00 to 12:00, Benjamin Oeckl presented the tool and outlined the journey from existing property to leased apartment. Professor Dr. Thomas Beyerle contextualised the current market conditions for conversion projects. Afterwards, a Q&A session was conducted with the participants.
