The construction advisory firm crosses a symbolic revenue threshold while expanding into the U.S., water infrastructure, and Luxembourg’s growing EU hub.
A Symbolic Milestone, A Structural Shift
Crossing the €1 billion mark is, for Drees & Sommer, less a victory lap than a signal about where the construction market is heading. As Marc Schömbs, Member of the Executive Board, explains: “Surpassing €1 billion is less about size and more about what it signals about the market. Our growth reflects a shift toward implementation-focused, interdisciplinary solutions that combine strategic thinking with delivery expertise.”
In an increasingly fragmented sector, he points to the underlying drivers: “Increasing project complexity, tighter regulatory frameworks and more stakeholders are driving demand for advisory services that reduce risk and ensure delivery.” That demand, he adds, is “further fueled by structural transformation, including infrastructure renewal, decarbonisation of buildings and industry and new requirements in energy, water and security.”
Riding the Re-shoring Wave Into the U.S.
Drees & Sommer’s American expansion via VVA targets life sciences, semiconductors, and data centers—sectors at the heart of industrial reshoring. Philipp Späth, Partner, frames the move as a long-term commitment: “Drees & Sommer sees the U.S. as a strategically important market despite current uncertainties, with strong long-term potential driven by reshoring policies and a renewed focus on supply chain sovereignty.” The strategy is deliberate and gradual: “Our expansion follows a long-term strategy to establish a relevant presence by 2030, supporting existing clients while building full-service capabilities for European companies entering the market.” Industrial clients already represent a major share of the business—“with nearly 45% of revenue coming from industrial clients, the U.S. is a natural extension of our global footprint.”
Betting on Construction Tech
Through its Bau Ventures program, the firm invests in early-stage prop-tech and construction startups but Sascha Hempel, Partner, says financial return is only part of the story. “Our investment thesis for the Bau Ventures is based on the transformation of the built environment through digitalization, sustainability and new technologies,” he explains, with focus areas spanning “PropTech, construction tech, energy and infrastructure.” Beyond writing checks, the firm gets hands-on: “we actively support startups through co-creation, testing and scaling in real projects.” On measuring success, he’s clear: “ROI is not only financial: we measure success also by strategic value such as technology integration, efficiency gains, sustainability impact and new business opportunities.”
Water as the Next Growth Driver
With water scarcity projected to cost economies up to €625 billion by 2050, Frank Bornmann, Partner and Head of Infrastructure, sees major opportunity ahead. “We see strong potential for water to evolve into a standalone strategic business field,” he says, framing the issue starkly: “Water scarcity is no longer just an environmental issue but an economic risk, requiring scalable solutions to ensure supply security and efficiency.”
The firm’s approach is comprehensive: “Our approach addresses the full water cycle, from drinking water to wastewater, reuse and infrastructure,” with circular systems playing “a key role in reducing resource dependency and increasing resilience.” For real estate and infrastructure clients, he adds, “this creates new value opportunities… positioning water as both a defensive and growth driver.”
Luxembourg’s Expanding Pipeline
From the Jean Monnet 2 complex to Kirchberg Hospital, Luxembourg remains a key market for the firm. Maximilien Ast, Associate Partner and Managing Director of Drees & Sommer Luxembourg, sees no slowdown ahead: “Luxembourg’s role as a European hub continues to drive demand for complex, future-proof infrastructure. We see sustained momentum in public assets, healthcare and EU-related developments.”
Projects, however, are evolving: “projects are becoming more complex, with higher expectations in functionality, flexibility and long-term performance,” with “sustainability, circularity and digitalisation increasingly shaping investment decisions, while resilience is becoming a core design principle.” The conclusion, he notes, “reinforces the need for multidisciplinary partners who can combine strategic advisory, technical expertise and implementation capabilities.”
Read more articles:
From Family Office To The Open Market
