Managing existing buildings: Zukunftslabor Juridicum presents final report : Date:
How should we deal with post-war modernist building stock? The Juridicum, a 1960s building in Frankfurt am Main, illustrates this question. Within the Zukunftslabor Juridicum (Juridicum Future Lab), Frankfurt UAS brings together experts from various disciplines to discuss and evaluate four future scenarios. The objective: a well-founded recommendation for the building's future and a basis for comparable planning and decision-making processes in the future.
Since January 2026, the Frankfurt research institute FFin at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS) has been facilitating the interdisciplinary dialogue process on the Juridicum on behalf of the City of Frankfurt am Main. The “Zukunftslabor Juridicum” is a dialogue-oriented, interdisciplinary process designed to develop future perspectives for the Juridicum on the Bockenheim Cultural Campus (Kulturcampus Bockenheim) in Frankfurt am Main. Using the example of the late-1960s building of the same name, the “Zukunftslabor Juridicum” developed a model for handling existing buildings of this type.
The building sector accounts for a significant proportion of total energy demand and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. According to the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), emissions from the building sector stood at 103.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents¹ in 2025. By 2045, the building stock in Germany is targeted to be virtually climate-neutral. The preservation, repurposing, and energy-efficient retrofitting of existing buildings are therefore key levers for advancing climate protection and resource conservation.
In a facilitated dialogue, experts developed recommendations on how to proceed with the building. Scenarios ranging from preservation to demolition were examined, alongside their impact on building culture (Baukultur), carbon footprint, economic viability, and the public good.
Demolition, partial preservation, or conversion: blueprint for managing existing buildings
Alongside the examination of the existing Juridicum building, the “Zukunftslabor Juridicum” process gives rise to an important model process. Beyond this individual case, it is intended to support towns and municipalities across Germany in making transparent, knowledge-based decisions regarding existing building stock.
In future, lengthy and complex decision-making processes surrounding the question of “preservation or demolition?” can be conducted in a structured and balanced manner, thereby shortening procedures and coordination processes. The objective of the “Zukunftslabor Juridicum” model process is to continue examining and weighing diverse thematic areas—such as sustainability and life cycle, economic viability and the public good, as well as spatial and functional context—against one another, avoiding premature, one-sided decisions.
The project thus operates at an exciting interface between research and knowledge transfer, enabling an intensive exchange between the university and urban society.
In mid-September 2026 the „Zukunftslabor Juridicum“ commitee presented the process’s final report and submitted its recommendations for further action to the City of Frankfurt am Main and ABG Frankfurt Holding.
1Bundesumweltamt (UBA): Emissions Data 2025 & Projection Data 2026
Text source: Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences