The building, which was constructed in 1960 and is located in the heart of Berlin with a rental area of 28,000 square meters, underwent a significant extension in 1999 (after winning the competition in 1991) under the direction of Sauerbruch Hutton, which gave it its current appearance with the iconic west façade. This architectural achievement was awarded the prestigious BDA Prize Berlin. In 2015 and 2016, a comprehensive refurbishment program was implemented, which significantly increased the quality and functionality of the building.
“We are extremely proud of the result of the certification. It underlines our firm belief that buildings of outstanding quality, regardless of their age, can be sustainable through active management. The Rocket Tower is therefore not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a role model for the integration of sustainability into the urban space. Overall, this award reflects our commitment to sustainability and environmental protection as well as our efforts to reduce our ecological footprint. It is also a recognition of the first-class service provided by Sauerbruch Hutton at the time”, explains Claudia Austen, Head of Asset Management at Sienna Investment Managers, which is responsible for managing the building on behalf of a European asset manager.
The certification audit was carried out by Cotecda GmbH, a company based in Frankfurt am Main that specializes in real estate and data. As a result, an overall degree of fulfillment of 57.89 percent was achieved. “This resulted in a rating of four stars or “very good” for the Rocket Tower,” adds Alexander Rüb from TÜV SÜD. As the national system representative for BREEAM, TÜV SÜD has been responsible for adapting BREEAM systems to national requirements, training BREEAM experts and issuing BREEAM certificates in the DACH region since 2016.
The BREEAM DE certification is a prestigious award given to buildings that meet strict criteria in areas such as energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and social responsibility.