DGNB Sus­tain­abil­ity Day

The main networking event for the DGNB community with the general assembly, the DGNB Sustainability Challenge and more

The DGNB Sustainability Day is the central event for everyone interested in sustainable building. It's the ideal opportunity to look at things from a different angle, forge valuable contacts and initiate potential partnerships. With a mix of formats, topics, ideas and people, one thing’s certain: wherever you join us from, it’s a day brimming with novel ideas. And if you recently joined us as a DGNB member, the day is ideal for exchanging views and networking with other DGNB members.

The event always begins with the association general assembly. It is here we present all key information on recent developments at the DGNB and new topics we’re working on. Every two years, DGNB Members elect the association's Board of Directors. This part of the event is open exclusively to the employees of DGNB Members.

The following stage and networking programme is open to everyone! Attendance is free of charge.

As last year, the stage programme will take place on two stages in the main hall and at the club. There’s also our Marketplace of Ideas, an exhibition area in which you can rub shoulders with DGNB partners, employees and the finalists of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge.

DGNB Sustainability Day 2025 at a glance

Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Check-in for the general assembly: starts 9 a.m.

Check-in for the stage and networking programme: starts 12.30 p.m.

Location: Im Wizemann, Quellenstraße 7, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany 

Please note that the event will be held in German. Switch to German language settings to pre-register.

When | WhereProgramme
10 am | HallGeneral assembly of the association (DGNB Members only)
1 pmNetworking break with lunch
2 pm | Hall

Keynote session: SHIFT the mindset – thinking transformation globally

“We know we have failed” – this personal insight is the starting point for the international SHIFT initiative, which takes a critical look at architecture strategies in our global community. Instead of transporting the design principles of the Global North into other regions of the world, SHIFT advocates a radical change of perspective – based on learning from the architectural heritage of the Global South. During this session, selected initiators of SHIFT explain what this entails. The event kicks off with Prof Thomas Auer presenting the initiative, followed by a keynote speech by Nicholas Kaspareck from Casa Congo from Latin America, who will present the KuNa_Bamboo Homes for Everyone project.

  • Prof Thomas Auer, TU Munich, Transsolar
  • Martin Haas, owner, haascookzemmrich Studio 2050, DGNB Vice President
  • Nicholas Kaspareck, Cofounder & CEO, Casa Congo

Moderator: Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO, DGNB

3 pm | Club

Fast-track innovation – the DGNB Sustainability Challenge

It’s now something of a tradition to stage the final of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge at the DGNB Sustainability Day. During the event, finalists in three categories – Innovation, Start-ups and Research – as well as the winners of this year's special prizes showcase their ideas in fast-track pitch presentations.

As in the past, the DGNB will once again be awarding an audience prize across all categories, as well as special prizes, which you can even vote for during the day. As well as online voting, which gets underway on the day of DGNB Idea Lab and continues until 24 June 2025, voting is open to members of the public on site during the DGNB Sustainability Day.

Moderator: Felix Jansen, Head of PR, Communication and Marketing, DGNB

4.30 pm | Hall

Spotlight Talks

Climate positive cities

Moderator: Matthias Schäpers, Manager Initiatives and Climate Positive Cities, DGNB

 

Sustainable material choice – between planners and manufacturers

What sustainability factors do architects need to consider when choosing materials? Which products are suitable for climate-friendly, circular, resource-conserving buildings? To improve dialogue between manufacturers and planners, particularly when it comes to requirements affecting sustainable building, a new tool has been developed as part of the Phase Sustainability initiative: the Declaration of Sustainability for Building Materials. Architects and manufacturers involved in writing the declaration explain how it works in practice.

  • Prof Amandus Samsøe Sattler, DGNB President; co-founder and owner, ensømble Studio Architektur
  • Prof Stefan Rappold, owner, Architekturkollektiv
  • Michael Scharpf, Head Sustainable Construction, Holcim Germany
  • Prof Josef Steretzeder, ppa. Servicebereichsleitung, Lindner

Moderator: Johannes Kreißig, CEO, DGNB

 

Sustainable finance – between banks and the building sector

Everyone is talking about transformation in the building and property industry. But how will it actually be financed? And how can it be ensured that available funds are used in the right places? It’s clear that as things stand, different stakeholder groups understand (too) little about each other. In response, the DGNB recently launched its initiative on sustainable finance in construction. This round-table session will focus on the specific aims of the initiative and how the DGNB is working with banks to achieve those aims.

  • Prof Thomas Auer, TU Munich, Transsolar
  • Patrick Weltin, Project Officer Sustainable Finance, VfU

Moderator: Seema Issar, Senior Advisor Sustainable Finance, DGNB

5.30 pm | Club

In a nutshell: recent developments at the DGNB

Whether it’s a certification system, training or a study: very few organisations are as proactive as the DGNB when it comes to continuously re-examining priorities and developing offers for our network. There are so many new things happening, it’s difficult to cover everything within the time available at the DGNB Sustainability Day. So instead, we’ll ask the audience: which topics would you like us to present on stage? The agenda for this part of the event will be defined live on the day from votes cast by participants.

Moderator: Dr Anna Braune, Head of Research and Development, DGNB
6.15 pm | Hall

Evening programme

  • Sustainable building around the world: a conversation with new DGNB System partners
    • Maksym Kryvosheiev, Ukrainian Green Building Council
    • Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO, DGNB
    • Johannes Kreißig, CEO, DGNB
    • Moderator: Felix Jansen, Head of PR, Communication and Marketing, DGNB
  • Keynote speech: Building in Africa

    Mike Schlaich’s talk revolves around a diary he kept during a six-month research semester on the African continent in 2022. The purpose of his trip was to gain insights into civil engineering in research, teaching and frontline application by travelling to twelve countries in southern and eastern Africa and looking at bridges, roads, buildings and residential buildings.

    In Bauen in Afrika, the book he published afterwards on building in Africa, he seeks answers to a number of questions, at the same time providing much food for thought. What resources and developments will contribute to success in tackling the enormous challenges faced on the African continent? Is there a civil engineering approach specific to each a country based on regional conditions, one that also addresses the predicted population growth? Are sustainability issues being addressed? Is there an awareness of the ‘art’ of civil engineering?
    • Prof Dr Mike Schlaich, Partner and board-member, sbp SE
  • Announcement of the winners of the 2025 DGNB Sustainability Challenge 
7.30 pmGet-together
10 pmEvent closes

More information on the programme to follow as and when.

CPD points for architects: The DGNB Sustainability Day 2025 has been recognised by the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects as a continuing professional development (CPD) event.

Participants who attend both the afternoon programme (starting at 1 pm) and the evening programme (starting at 6.15 pm) will receive three CPD hours following the event.
If you are interested, please contact service@dgnb.de after successfully attending the event. We will then verify your attendance and issue a certificate for submission to the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects.


 

Marketplace of Ideas

Participants have the chance to meet the partners of the DGNB Sustainability Day, various DGNB cooperation partners and the finalists of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge at their stands at the Marketplace of Ideas.

Walk and Talk: guided tours

In addition, guided tours of the Marketplace of Ideas will take place several times throughout the day, offering you the opportunity to learn more about the companies, initiatives and projects shown. The guided tours are accompanied by experts from the DGNB network.

The guided tours will take place at 1.15 pm, 1.30 pm, 4.45 pm, 5 pm, 5.30 pm and 5.45 pm.

  • Travelling by public transport from Stuttgart Main Station (Hauptbahnhof)
    To reach the Pragsattel stop (approx. 6 minutes): take the U6 towards Gerlingen, the U7 towards Mönchfeld, or the U15 towards Stammheim.

    From Pragsattel to Mahle/Glockenstraße (approx. 3 minutes): take the U13 towards Hedelfingen or the U16 towards Fellbach Lutherkirche; from the Mahle stop, it is a 5-minute walk to the event venue.

  • Travelling by car
    We recommend using public transport to reach the venue. However, if you do decide to travel by car, please note that parking is limited. Please follow the signs to designated car parks.

  • Hotel recommendations for the DGNB Sustainability Day:

    Motel One, Stuttgart Bad-Cannstatt

    Reaching the hotel by public transport: from Stuttgart Main Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Bad Cannstatt Wilhelmsplatz (approx. 14 minutes), take the U1 towards Fellbach Lutherkirche. From Wilhelmsplatz, it is a 2-minute walk to the hotel.

    Travelling to the event venue (Wizemann): from Wilhelmsplatz to Mahle/Glockenstraße (approx. 7 minutes), take the U16 towards Giebel. From the Mahle stop, it is a 5-minute walk to the venue.


    Motel One, Stuttgart Main Station

    Getting to the event venue (Wizemann): from Stuttgart Main Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Pragsattel (approx. 6 minutes), take the U6 towards Gerlingen, the U7 towards Mönchfeld or the U15 towards Stammheim.

    From Pragsattel to Mahle/Glockenstraße (approx. 3 minutes): take the U13 towards Hedelfingen or the U16 towards Fellbach Lutherkirche. From the Mahle stop, it is a 5-minute walk to the event venue.


    Radisson Blu Hotel at Porsche Design Tower Stuttgart

    Getting there by public transport: from Stuttgart main station (Hauptbahnhof) to Pragsattel (approx. 6 minutes), take the U6 towards Gerlingen, the U7 towards Mönchfeld or the U15 towards Stammheim. From Pragsattel, it is a 4-minute walk to the hotel.

    Travelling to the event venue (Im Wizemann): from Pragsattel to Mahle/Glockenstraße (approx. 3 minutes), take the U13 towards Hedelfingen or the U16 towards Fellbach Lutherkirche. From the Mahle stop, it is a 5-minute walk to the venue.

Spread the word in your network

You're taking part in the DGNB Sustainability Day? Fantastic! Feel free to use the visuals below and the hashtags #WirSindDieDGNB and #TdN25 in your own social media communications to let your network know.
You’re also welcome to tag the DGNB in your LinkedIn post.

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Visual "I'll be there"

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Visual "We'll be there"


 

Review – The DGNB Sustainability Day 2024 in pictures


Many thanks to our partners

Further events

More

Final of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge

We have a tradition of the finalists of our innovation competition showcasing their products or services at the DGNB Sustainability Day.


Your contacts

Christian Bergmann

Christian Bergmann

Member Support

Julia Treiber

Julia Treiber

Project Manager Trade Fairs and Events