Study by Empa and Eawag Confirms the Value of Sustainable Construction

(CONNECT) A new study by the Institute for History and Theory of Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) shows how sustainable construction can be economically viable. Using the example of the hybrid-construction parking garage on the research campus of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Water Research Institute According to a press release, the study conducted by Eawag in Dübendorf demonstrates how rezoning a building—a consideration incorporated into the construction planning from the outset—can result in an increase in value.

Although, according to the study’s author, Bernhard Kümmerli, “requirements for economic sustainability in architecture are not yet systematically taken into account,” it became apparent that the clients, Empa and Eawag, had factored in the possibility of future repurposing. In Scenario 1, as private vehicle traffic declines, the parking areas are envisioned for use as office or commercial space. In the more far-reaching Scenario 2, in which passenger transport could be carried out via public transit or through combined mobility, a complete transformation and repurposing is integrated into the planning. To this end, a modular design consisting of demountable prefabricated components was chosen, a light-filled wooden facade was installed, and the ceiling height was maintained at a level suitable for office use.

According to calculations prepared in collaboration with the consulting firm Wüest Partner, a partial renovation of the campus parking garage would result in future cost savings of approximately 6 million Swiss francs, while a complete renovation would yield savings of approximately 12 million Swiss francs. The study demonstrated the benefits of sustainable design, despite construction costs that were 22 percent higher than those of a conventionally built parking garage.

“Such well-founded statements on economic sustainability have been lacking until now,” Kevin Olas, head of the Real Estate Division at Empa, is quoted as saying in the press release. Such financial analyses, which take potential future benefits into account, are extremely valuable for sustainability in the construction industry. “If the net present value method is consistently applied in the future, it could significantly accelerate the transition to climate-friendly construction practices,” said Olas. ce/ww