Concepts & Documentation
How We Verify Statements About Urban Tech Republic
Urban Tech Republic is a hub for research, technology, and innovation in urban technologies. Much of the information on this website relates to plans, infrastructure concepts, research projects, partnerships, or companies based at the site.
On this page, we summarize the most important projects, concepts, and facts that we refer to when discussing energy, digitalization, water, the circular economy, materials, and biodiversity.
At a Glance
– DGNB Platinum Certification for Campus West
– Low-exergy energy concept for Berlin TXL
– Research project on evaporation ponds
– Circular Economy and ReUse Concepts
DGNB Award
How can cities balance social, environmental, and economic needs? The German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen – DGNB) provides a framework for this by evaluating urban neighborhoods and buildings based on established sustainability criteria.
The Urban Tech Republic’s Campus West was evaluated and certified by the DGNB. As early as 2016, the neighborhood received DGNB pre-certification at the Platinum level. This was followed in 2022 by the DGNB development certificate at the Platinum level. With 86.5% of the possible points, Campus West achieved a top score.
What does the DGNB evaluate?
– Environmental Quality
– Cost-effectiveness
– Technical Quality
– Process Quality
– Infrastructure quality
– Site Quality
Supporting Information
– DGNB Platinum Pre-Certification
– DGNB Development Certificate (Platinum) (2022)
– Evaluation result for Campus West: 86.5% of the possible points
Energy
A joint low-exergy energy concept is planned for the Schumacher Quarter and the neighboring Urban Tech Republic, which Green Urban Energy GmbH is to implement on our behalf.
Planned Components
– LowEx low-temperature system (approx. 20/40 °C)
– Geothermal Energy
– Heat pump technology
– Recovery of waste heat from commercial and industrial sources
– Photovoltaics
– Smart Grid Control System
Planned Key Figures
– Share of renewable energy > 80% in the target system
– Primary energy factor: approx. 0.3
Supporting Information
Evaporation beds
Water is one of the key topics for the future at Urban Tech Republic. Together with partners from academia and the professional world, we are exploring new approaches to stormwater management and climate-resilient urban development. One example is our experimental facility for evaporation beds.
Project Partners
– Berlin TXL Management GmbH
– Berlin Water Authority
– Technical University of Berlin
– Berlin University of Applied Sciences
Research Project: Evaporation Pads
A 450-square-meter pilot plant for evaporation beds was set up on the Urban Tech Republic campus.
Evaporation beds store rainwater locally and release it back into the environment through plants and the soil. The goal of the project is to gain insights into the planning, operation, and further development of such systems.
Supporting Information
The information is based on the research project on the evaporative cooling system in Berlin TXL. Among other things, the project examines rainwater management, evaporative cooling, and climate-adapted urban development. Excerpts from the underlying research and project documents can be viewed upon request.
Circular Economy & ReUse
Supporting Information
– ReUse and Urban Mining Concept for Berlin TXL
– Development of a guide for circular demolition in collaboration with Concular
– Pilot projects at Terminal D and Parking Garage P2
– Assessment of the reusability, marketability, and CO₂ reduction potential of building components
– Application of DIN SPEC 91484 for a structured assessment prior to demolition and renovation
Circular Construction
In collaboration with Concular, Berlin TXL is developing methods for collecting, evaluating, and reusing building materials. The goal is to reuse suitable components and materials from existing buildings as much as possible before resorting to new resources.
The process developed takes into account, among other things, historic preservation, hazardous materials, technical reusability, marketability, and potential CO₂ savings. It is based on DIN SPEC 91484 for so-called pre-demolition audits.
Specific Applications
The process is already being applied to existing buildings on the site, including:
– Terminal D
– Parking Garage P2
Supporting Information
The information is based on the Berlin TXL ReUse concept, the guidelines for circular demolition, and the project documentation on circular construction. The documents describe the inventory, assessment, and reuse of building components and materials; urban mining; DIN SPEC 91484; and pilot applications in existing buildings. If necessary, excerpts from the underlying concept and project documents can be viewed.
Important Note
Some of the measures and projects described here relate to ongoing research projects, infrastructure concepts, pilot projects, corporate activities, or developments currently being implemented. The current status of each project, plan, and research effort is decisive.