Potsdamer Platz, a central urban district in Berlin, has once again been awarded DGNB Gold Certification, following its initial certification in 2011. This second award was granted under the newly introduced DGNB system for existing districts, making Potsdamer Platz one of the first districts to be assessed according to this standard. The renewed certification underscores the possibility of operating and developing existing property portfolios sustainably.
The district, comprising 17 properties across an area of 12.7 hectares, symbolises the reunification of Berlin. Originally a wasteland destroyed by the Second World War and later traversed by the Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz transformed into a mixed-use urban quarter in the 1990s. The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e.V.) already recognised its high sustainability quality with a Gold Certification for new urban districts in 2011.
Comprehensive Analysis and Strategic Further Development
The current certification was carried out by the consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE, which was also involved in the redevelopment of Potsdamer Platz in the 1990s. The process, which began in October 2023 and concluded with the Gold award level in September 2025, included a comprehensive status quo analysis, a pre-check, and the audit. Katharina Treiber, Senior Vice President Asset Management at Brookfield Properties, who acts as the owner's representative for 16 of the 17 properties, highlighted that the long-term orientation of the district is evidenced by a stringent sustainability strategy and the renewed certification. Lisa Momper, Project Manager at Drees & Sommer, added that the project demonstrates that existing assets can have a future if they are precisely analysed and consistently further developed.
The district at Potsdamer Platz is characterised by a mix of prestigious office spaces, retail, gastronomy, hotels, and residential units. A listed building from 1912 is also integrated. This diversity of use creates a vibrant work and leisure location. Climate protection roadmaps have been developed for all 16 buildings managed by Brookfield Properties, aiming for climate neutrality by 2045. Components of these plans include annual consumption reductions of one per cent for electricity, water, heating, and cooling, as well as the introduction of Green Leases since 2023. These sustainable rental agreements stipulate that landlords and tenants jointly take measures to reduce energy and resource consumption.
Innovative Concepts and Urban Integration
Special features of the sustainable urban district include innovative rainwater management, which allows for the reuse of collected water for irrigation purposes and partly for toilet flushing, as well as an underground supply and disposal centre that promotes operational efficiency and sustainability. Another urban planning measure is the redesign of Alte Potsdamer Straße into a pedestrian zone, which enhances the quality of stay and strengthens connectivity within the district. Ms Momper clarified that the renewed certification shows that sustainability does not end with new construction but must be continued in existing properties.
The certification of urban districts with sustainability labels offers various advantages. Optimised resource utilisation, for example, for electricity and water, can reduce costs, from which users directly benefit. Simultaneously, the attractiveness and thus the value of properties within the district are increased. With the conclusion of the pilot phase in 2025, existing districts and districts in transformation can for the first time be certified with the market version of the DGNB system. The DGNB takes into account the diversity of urban uses and offers different profiles for urban districts, business districts, commercial districts, and industrial sites depending on the main use.
