Building with a Feel-Good Atmosphere

This is a Cradle-to-Cradle building, sustainably designed and equipped with a heat recovery system. A completely different project is the skyscraper at Alexanderplatz. It consists of two towers, one of which was existing. We built four stories underground and 30 stories above. The facade was created with the help of a robot. In the Westend of Offenbach am Main, on the site of a former soap factory, we built 320 apartments. This has resulted in one of the largest housing projects in Offenbach in recent years, giving the city a significant investment boost.

Wirtschaftsforum: Can you also give us examples from the commercial sector?

Leo W. A. de Man: We are open to everything here as well. Currently, we are constructing a hotel at Potsdamer Hauptbahnhof. Here, we must be especially fast as it includes a commercial space of around 30,000 m² and the shops there soon wish to open. The project has an investment volume of around 64 million EUR and the technical requirements are very high. Moreover, we are working on an office complex in Wuppertal. This project also encompasses a volume of nearly 60 million EUR. The complex is located along the Wupper river and is distinguished by its special facade. Additionally, we are involved in a project with the Adler Group. Here, we are developing 45,000 m² of residential and commercial space, 22,500 m² of offices, retail, and apartments.

Wirtschaftsforum: What role does sustainability play in your projects?

Leo W. A. de Man: We face this issue because we have to. In recent years, construction costs have skyrocketed. They will only decrease when there is an oversupply. Land prices will eventually fall as well. However, these developments will still be delayed. As far as energy is concerned, we build our apartments in the passive house sector, so that operating costs for owners and tenants decrease. In ongoing projects, we work with photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and combined heat and power plants. In a current project in Berlin-Köpenick, we are also using a combined heat and power plant. The facility generates its own electricity and can be operated with 75% hydrogen. Here, the focus is increasingly on comfort quality. Currently, we are also purchasing a property near Düsseldorf on which we want to become completely energy self-sufficient, using hydrogen and geothermal energy.

Wirtschaftsforum: What distinguishes Kondor Wessels from other providers? Why do customers come to you?

Leo W. A. de Man: We have been in the market for a long time and have a reputation for building quality and being reliable. We do not only develop, but also construct ourselves. In essence, we can offer projects entirely from one source. This gives the clients security. Security is becoming an increasingly important issue in our sector. We handle the trust of our customers with care. This also applies to our partner network. If there is a problem, we do not argue but look for a solution.

Wirtschaftsforum: What are your key topics for the next few months?

Leo W. A. de Man: At the moment, due to the current political and economic situation, it is hardly possible to plan too far ahead. Although we expect a downward trend in the market until at least 2025, eventually things will start to improve. Until then, we will use the time to complete ongoing projects, advance digitization in our operations, and optimize our processes. It is important for us to retain our employees. Our employees are our greatest asset.

Wirtschaftsforum: What market position do you aim for in the long term?

Leo W. A. de Man: In the long term, we aim to achieve the market position we have in Berlin in NRW as well. We will also grow in Frankfurt and Dresden and continue to establish ourselves as a professional partner in the market.