PDCA4Future - Feasibility Study for a Climate-Resilient Urban District in Bruck an der Mur through a New Planning and Financing Approach

Starting point/ motivation

With the mission "Climate-Neutral City," pioneering cities are setting a clear example to achieve the federal government's goal of climate neutrality by 2040. Public buildings play a key role, with thermal renovations being one of the main levers for reaching climate targets.

Contents and goals

As part of the feasibility study, a multifunctional planning and assessment tool is to be developed for pioneering (small) cities. This tool will build on the city's climate neutrality roadmap and, for the first time, consolidate and evaluate all direct and indirect impacts on the immediate environment (e.g., neighbourhoods). This evaluation will serve as a crucial decision-making basis for the planned renovation or implementation project.

The focus is on the Hannes-Bammer-Sports Hall, the city's highest energy-consuming building, with annual electricity costs exceeding €60,000. Built in 1978, it has served as a sports and training facility for numerous clubs in Bruck ever since. A preliminary assessment revealed that constructing a new facility at another location would likely be the more cost-effective solution in the short term. 

However, considering the economic benefits for the city centre, renovation or rebuilding at the current location appears more sustainable and economical in the long term.

Methods

To overcome the challenge of high investment costs, innovative financing models are needed. These models aim to spread the financial burden over several years, ideally reinterpreting energy savings as an investment in construction costs to support low-risk financial planning. They are intended to be applicable to other city projects and replicable in other pioneering cities.

As part of this feasibility study, a planning and assessment tool, as well as a financing model, will be developed using the sports hall in Bruck an der Mur as a case study. The primary goal of the PDCA4Future project is to evaluate and analyse the feasibility of the renovation and surrounding area development for the Hannes-Bammer-Sports Hall. 

Two instruments developed during the feasibility study will be applied:

• A planning and assessment tool setting new standards in urban development.
• Innovative participation models creating optimal conditions for financing the development of the district.

Additional objectives of the project include:

• Incorporating the city's climate neutrality roadmap as the basis for the planning and assessment tool.
• Making a fact-based decision between renovation and new construction.
• Prioritizing and weighting indicators tailored to the roadmap.
• Considering the entire environment in renovation and construction projects.
• Promoting integrative and sustainable urban planning.
• Engaging users for demand-driven planning of the sports hall's facilities.
• Conducting interdisciplinary workshops within city administration to address user needs and interests.
• Developing guidelines for the new district regarding transport, green spaces, and urban densification.

Expected Results

• A functional planning and assessment tool setting new standards for sustainable urban development.
• Innovative participation and financing models transferable to other projects.
• A sound decision-making framework for renovating or rebuilding the Hannes-Bammer-Sports Hall.
• Guidelines for developing the surrounding district, with a focus on transportation, green spaces, and urban densification.

Project management

Stadtgemeinde Bruck an der Mur

Project or cooperation partners

• 4ward Energy Research GmbH
• DI Schemmel Christian

Stadtgemeinde Bruck an der Mur
Koloman-Wallisch-Platz 1
A-8600 Bruck an der Mur

Tel.: +43 (3862) 890 - 2230
E-mail: tobias.kornberger@bruckmur.at
Web: www.bruckmur.at