Photo: J. Bitter

Investing, but with purpose: Mannheim's flagship project Franklin Village is an exciting example of SAGST's mission investment. The new residential quarter meets high ecological and social standards and in September 2025 was awarded the prestigious architecture prize from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building was awarded in September 2025.

The project
Just a few years ago, one of the largest residential areas of the US Army in Germany was located here. Within the ambitious development project, Franklin Village forms a kind of village in the city: a lively, community-oriented quarter with 90 rental apartments in timber construction and high ecological and social standards.

When designing the neighborhood, the focus was on social mixing, inclusion, sustainable construction and future-proof energy and mobility concepts. The Franklin Village flagship project implements these requirements in an innovative way. The project partners were the Berlin architecture firm Sauerbruch Hutton, the project developer Innovatio and the property developer OT Franklin Mannheim GmbH.

However, the path to the goal was not without obstacles. SAGST was originally supposed to take over the property fully let, but the developer had to file for insolvency before completion. In order to complete the project successfully, the foundation completed it on its own. "We stepped into the breach so that the project would still succeed and all tenants would have a home," reports foundation director Markus Ziener. The last apartments were occupied in February 2024.

Sustainability criteria
In addition to the particularly sustainable timber construction method, the architects' approach of renovating large parts of the existing buildings and integrating them into the concept was a decisive factor for the investment. Tenant electricity from photovoltaic systems on the roofs and car-sharing services are also included. Communal areas promote interaction between the residents, while price-linked rents in the existing building underline the social aspirations.

"All of this fits in well with SAGST's investment strategy, especially as we want to support residential construction and invest more in this area in order to minimize risk, but also out of a sense of responsibility towards society," explains Markus Ziener. The SAGST portfolio therefore includes further communal complexes with residential units that can be used by people with assistance needs, for example. In addition to the Heidelberg Village neighborhood developed a few years ago, this also includes a project in Nürtingen that combines two so-called inclusive cluster apartments and cooperative living.

Impact
"We expect Franklin Village to send out a signal that will have an impact on other projects," emphasizes Marie-Luise Millotat, Head of Asset Management. "It shows that wood works as a sustainable alternative to other forms of construction in multi-storey residential buildings. In addition, the well thought-out architecture promotes neighborly encounters and prevents loneliness." A moderated neighborhood app supports this exchange. The residents organize parties, swap meets and joint excursions independently via this platform - a promising start that brings the idea of a village in the city to life.