When the ground was broken for the Suurstoffi site in 2010, Zug Estates – with its zero-zero strategy – was focused on the CO2-neutral operation of the buildings through construction of geothermal probe fields and an anergy grid, a maximisation of energy production on site, and high-quality outdoor spaces. Suurstoffi attracted a lot of attention both in Switzerland and internationally thanks to this approach, and to this day is regarded as a shining example of site development. The fact that this also needs to be proven in the form of a building label or certificate was barely discussed at the time.

15 years after the groundbreaking and the tide has turned. Various stakeholder groups are demanding greater transparency and ease of comparison – specifically in the form of sustainability and quality certificates or labels. The individual approach pursued by Zug Estates as mentioned in the introduction is no longer part of the assessment grid. Demand for certificates has risen strongly in recent years, says Ramon Zimmermann, Project Manager with consultancy firm Denkgebäude AG. As sustainability advisor and DGNB auditor, the company advised and supported Zug Estates in its efforts to obtain the DGNB certificate. Ramon Zimmermann says there are multiple drivers behind this development. “Awareness of the topic has been transformed. Furthermore, I see financial incentives given that a certificate contributes to quality assurance and therefore the value retention of a property.” With that in mind, he also points to the improved financing opportunities being offered by the banks. Last but not least, he adds that certificates are important from a marketing perspective because international firms in particular now require them prior to entering into a tenancy. It is for those reasons that Zug Estates likewise decided to seek certification.

There are numerous sustainability and quality certificates as well as labels, including SNBS, Minergie, DGNB, LEED and BREEAM. They can essentially be divided into the site, building and energy certificate categories. The difference – as the name suggests – lies in the parameters. Site certificates, for example, focus on the fundamentals of the buildings and incorporate outdoor spaces into the assessment, while in the case of building certificates the emphasis is on the individual properties (e.g. lighting within the building or the design of the windows). For Zug Estates, the decision to opt for a site certificate was easy given that outdoor spaces are an important factor in site development. There was also good reason to choose DGNB. It is an internationally recognised seal of quality which, alongside BREEAM (UK) and LEED (USA), is one of the three most important rating systems in the world and is represented by the Swiss Sustainable Building Council (SGNI).

“As a matter of principle, it’s a good idea to start planning as soon as possible when it comes to sustainability and potential certification”, says Dieter Breer, Sustainability Expert and Partner at Denkgebäude AG. Commencing the certification process at a later date, as in the case of the Suurstoffi site, is not always possible, he says, because “it’s often the case that information is simply no longer available and evidence can no longer be produced. In a worst-case scenario, there may be no evidence available across an entire topic.” Content-wise, Zug Estates got a lot of things right from the outset when it built Suurstoffi, he says. Specifically, the CO₂-free energy concept, site development including architectural competitions, as well as holistic consideration of ESG criteria, were worth a lot of points. Fundamental topics such as these can no longer be corrected at a later date. Over 400 documents – some of which still had to be produced – were submitted for the certification process. In spring 2024, Suurstoffi became the first site in Switzerland to be awarded the DGNB Platinum certificate.