Social and serial: ALEXANDRA STIFTUNG commissions ecoworks for an energy-efficient renovation project in Berlin
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Berlin, January 23, 2025 – A pioneering pilot project in sustainable and energy-efficient renovation is underway in Berlin. This initiative is the result of a partnership between ecoworks, the pioneer and innovation leader in serial climate-neutral renovation (www.ecoworks.tech), and ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG, Germany’s oldest housing organization. ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG owns around 1,000 apartments in Berlin and Brandenburg. Since its founding, the foundation has pursued the goal of creating affordable housing for all segments of the population, driven by the practical application of Christian charity. In 2001, Hilfswerk-Siedlung GmbH (HWS) took over the foundation's business operations.
Together, they have launched a groundbreaking social project focused on the renovation of 21 apartments from ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG’s portfolio in Berlin-Steglitz-Zehlendorf, incorporating newly developed technologies in project development, planning, and project management. Two residential buildings from 1954 with a total living area of 1,043 m² will undergo serial renovation (including façade upgrades, new roof insulation and covering, basement insulation, and new XL balconies). These three-story multifamily buildings, currently rated in energy classes F/G, will be upgraded to meet the KfW Efficiency House Standard 55 EE under the German Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG – KfW), improving both energy performance and living comfort.
Transforming the building stock: Christian tradition meets innovation
“For ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG, taking responsibility for people and nature – the preservation of creation – is part of our mission. It is both our commitment and duty to live up to this responsibility. We embody this commitment through our involvement in various projects – such as the serial renovation with ecoworks,” says Jörn von der Lieth, member of the board of ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG. “In the housing sector, climate protection and energy-efficient modernization of existing buildings are among the most pressing issues – and we’ve been contributing to this for quite some time. To meet the Paris Agreement’s two-degree target and achieve a climate-neutral building stock by 2050, we now need to significantly step up our efforts. The situation calls not just for commitment, but for transformation. That’s why ecoworks, as the pioneer and innovation leader in serial renovation, is our partner of choice,” adds Dorit Brauns, also on the board of ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG.
“In the past two years, our development team has made significant progress in automating building models and digital renovation planning. To make energy renovations even more efficient and cost-effective, we are continuously advancing both software and hardware for automation in the real estate and renovation industry – including our proprietary software solutions, renovation concepts, and a configurable renovation system inspired by the automotive industry,” explains ecoworks founder and CEO Emanuel Heisenberg. “We are very pleased that our innovative renovation solutions convinced ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG to start this project in Berlin with us.”
Serial renovation: Combining digitization and industrialization in the housing sector
Serial renovation involves wrapping existing buildings with prefabricated thermal envelopes that include insulation, windows, thermal protection, and ventilation systems – all pre-installed at the factory. Additional piping is installed on the building's exterior. This method speeds up availability and significantly reduces construction time. Prefabrication also ensures high quality. The building envelope is made from ecological materials that can be recycled or reused in a circular system after a lifespan of 50 to 70 years.
The project in Berlin-Steglitz-Zehlendorf is ecoworks’ second serial renovation project in the city. In Berlin Marzahn-Hellersdorf, the first serial renovation of a WBS 70 prefab building is nearing completion.
About ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG
ALEXANDRA-STIFTUNG is Germany’s oldest housing organization, managing approximately 1,000 units in Berlin and Brandenburg. Founded in 1852 to alleviate housing shortages in the growing city of Berlin, the foundation is named after Tsarina Alexandra. Since its inception, it has been committed to providing housing for broad segments of society at affordable rents, guided by Christian charity. Since 2001, the foundation’s business operations have been managed by Hilfswerk-Siedlung GmbH – a Protestant housing company based in Berlin.
Press contact:
Hilfswerk-Siedlung GmbH
Evangelisches Wohnungsunternehmen Berlin
Kirchblick 13
14129 Berlin
Nadine Butke, Press Officer
+49 30 816003-220
presse@hws-berlin.de
www.hws-berlin.de
About ecoworks
ecoworks is the housing sector’s partner for affordable energy-efficient renovation. Acting as general contractor, ecoworks supports housing companies – from small cooperatives to large corporations – from the initial idea to large-scale serial implementation. With serial renovation, 80% of the value creation shifts from the construction site to the factory. As the pioneer and innovation leader for serial renovation in Germany, ecoworks plans, manufactures, and installs façade and roof elements to upgrade multifamily buildings to NetZero standards within just a few weeks. Based in Berlin, the company developed this technology in Germany and is now bringing it to scale through multiple projects. ecoworks is considered one of the most innovative climate tech providers for buildings worldwide. The mid-sized company is currently working on more than 20 serial renovation projects across Germany.
Media Contact ecoworks:
Daniel Görs
ecoworks GmbH
Lübecker Strasse 1-2
10559 Berlin
+491737195734
presse@ecoworks.tech
