From planning permission checks to timber-and-clay hybrid construction: at the ‘Sustainable Building and Renovation’ conference on 17 September 2026, experts from the fields of research, planning and construction will come together for the third time at HTWK Leipzig – registration is now open
How can natural building materials be reliably approved? What do new regulatory requirements mean for planning and building services engineering? And which solutions from research and practice are already proving their worth today? These and other topical questions will be addressed at the 3rd Symposium on ‘Sustainable Construction and Renovation’ on 17 September 2026 at the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig). Running from 9 am to 7 pm, the event will bring together experts from the fields of research, planning and construction practice. It is organised by the Naturbau-Campus and HTWK Leipzig in cooperation with the Leipzig Chamber of Crafts.
Following two successful editions, the symposium is now entering its third round. This year’s focus is particularly on the question of how sustainable construction can be implemented in practice under the current technical, legal and economic conditions. The programme covers a wide range of topics, from certification and building modernisation, through building services, fire safety and planning permission issues, to timber-and-clay constructions, the restoration of historic solid-clay buildings, green facades and new forms of housing.
“Sustainable construction must move beyond individual pilot projects and become part of everyday planning and building practice. To achieve this, we need solutions that are not only ecologically sound but also technically viable, approvable, economically viable and practicable,” says David Pfennig, Chair of the Bildungswerk für nachhaltige Entwicklung e. V., the organisation behind the Naturbau-Campus. “The symposium brings together precisely those people who are working on these solutions, researching them and applying them in practice,” adds Björn Höhlig, Professor of Sustainable Construction/Renovation at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at HTWK Leipzig.
From new rules of the game to building with wood and clay
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Björn Höhlig from HTWK Leipzig will kick off the series of specialist presentations with an overview of the latest changes to the legislative and funding landscape. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bert Oschatz from the Institute for Technical Building Services in Dresden will focus on the requirements of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), its national implementation and the implications for building services engineering. Several presentations will demonstrate, using practical examples, how sustainable construction methods can be implemented in practice. Alexander Tietze from Steinblock Architekten and Max Berning from Terhalle Holzbau will jointly present a new three-storey climate-positive school building constructed using a hybrid timber-clay construction method, from the perspectives of both planning and execution. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Röder and Benedikt Füger from the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences provide insights into current research and techniques for the renovation of damaged solid clay buildings. Further presentations will address green facades, historic building structures as models for modern earthen construction, insulation materials made from renewable raw materials, and the requirements for certifying sustainable building products and construction methods. The social dimension of building is also part of the programme: architect Gordon Tannhäuser highlights the opportunities and challenges of socially and environmentally sustainable, yet affordable, forms of housing.
Trade fair sees significant growth
It is not just the programme of talks that is extensive: the accompanying trade exhibition is attracting a great deal of interest this year. The available exhibition spaces were in high demand. Alongside companies presenting sustainable building materials for visitors to experience first-hand, almost twice as many initiatives and stakeholders from the fields of education and research on the construction transition are taking part compared with last year. Those represented include GoLehm, natureplus e.V., Bauwende Sachsen and the ZEKIWA Zeitz real-world laboratory. Also taking part are educational and research institutions such as the Institute for Building Biology and Sustainability, the fup Environmental Institute Leipzig, and several research groups and departments at HTWK Leipzig. The exhibition thus offers an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of sustainable building materials, discover research approaches and regional initiatives, and engage in dialogue with the participating stakeholders.
“The huge response to the trade exhibition shows just how much momentum there is now in sustainable construction. Research, manufacturers, the skilled trades and initiatives bring a wide range of perspectives to the table – and it is precisely this exchange that is crucial if sustainable solutions are to be adopted more widely,” says Sven Börjesson, Head of the Environment and Transfer Centre and Advisor for Innovation and Technology at the Leipzig Chamber of Skilled Trades. Following the presentations, the event will therefore deliberately shift the focus to dialogue: from 4 pm to 7 pm, speakers, exhibitors and participants can explore their topics in greater depth in a moderated discussion forum and network with one another. The trade exhibition will continue in parallel.
Registration for the symposium
The 3rd Symposium on ‘Sustainable Construction and Renovation’ will take place on Thursday, 17 September 2026, at the Trefftz-Bau (Building A) of HTWK Leipzig, Gustav-Freytag-Straße 43–45. Registration begins at 8.30 am, and the specialist presentations start at 9 am. The trade exhibition and the moderated discussion forum can be visited free of charge from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The conference is recognised as a continuing professional development event comprising eight teaching units by the Saxony Chamber of Engineers, the Chambers of Architects of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and DENA.
As the organisers are once again expecting a high level of interest, early registration is recommended. For information, participation fees and registration, please visit naturbau-campus.de/fachtagung2026.
