Dr. Anne Harzdorf has been appointed as the new Professor of Construction Management, in particular Life Cycle Management, at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. We spoke to her about her new role and the challenges challenges in her field. The professor emphasizes the essential importance of a holistic view of real estate and her passion for sensitizing students to this topic.
Professor Harzdorf, welcome to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Before we talk about your field of work, let's take a brief look back. What did you study?
I first studied Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Dresden and then Architecture. My focus was on civil engineering. I also completed my doctorate at the Institute of Construction Management in 2020.
Why did you choose civil engineering?
As a child, I had the opportunity to experience the establishment and development of my father's construction company. This sparked my curiosity for the construction industry and ultimately led me to choose civil engineering as my field of study.
What were your most important career steps after graduating?
After my studies, I worked as a construction manager in a medium-sized architectural firm in Dresden. There I supervised various construction projects in the context of awarding contracts and construction supervision in Dresden and the surrounding area as well as in Berlin. I then worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Construction Management at the Technical University of Dresden and had the opportunity to get involved in teaching and research. During this time, I also worked with a globally active DAX company. After completing my doctoral thesis in 2020, I was employed in construction management at Deutsche Bahn Station&Service AG. In the position of construction project specialist, I supported and successfully implemented various strategic construction management topics throughout Germany.
What made you decide to specialize in the field of construction management, in particular life cycle management?
During my work as a research assistant, I had the opportunity to deal intensively with the entire life cycle of real estate. This experience showed me that the holistic view of real estate from a construction management perspective is an area that has often been neglected up to now. However, it is precisely this holistic approach that is of crucial importance for the long-term development of a sustainable real estate portfolio in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
Do you also see this as an important building block for Real Estate students?
Exactly. My aim is to raise awareness of a life cycle-based approach right from the training stage and to create transparency in this complex subject area. What particularly fascinates me about this area is the opportunity to consider not only ecological and social aspects, but also Economics in equal measure.
What is your impression: do all those involved in construction today need to become more aware that their activities are political? That they have to build in a circular, resource-conserving and sustainable way?
Absolutely. Everyone involved in construction today needs to develop a conscious understanding of a holistic view of real estate. The aim must be to make the complex interrelationships transparent, from realization and use through to demolition. In addition, it must be shown that sustainable construction can only be achieved if all life cycle phases are taken into account. The challenge is to overcome the systematic constraints of short-term cost minimization in favour of considering the entire life cycle. This can only be achieved if the topic is integrated as a basic component in practice and science and is taken into account accordingly in the legal framework.
Professor Harzdorf, thank you very much for the interview.
