Strategies for successful retail properties

Challenge: Rising costs, ESG requirements and stranding risk

Retail properties are among the asset classes under the greatest pressure today. High energy demand for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation drives operating costs, while ESG requirements, stranding risk and changing consumer behaviour continue to tighten market conditions. How can retail spaces remain attractive despite rising costs? Which risks threaten long-term asset value? And which decisions must be taken early to avoid costly missteps later on?

Our approach: Optimising retail properties with data and AI

Commercial retail properties are shaped by complex, high-stakes decisions — spanning refurbishment scope, building systems and energy sources. Without robust data, priorities are easily misjudged and economic potential remains unused. Metabuild combines simulation, AI and precise cost models into a clear decision framework. We not only show which measures are ESG-compliant, but also where the greatest cost-saving potential lies. The result: double-digit percentage reductions in capital and operating costs — and a level of decision certainty that conventional studies cannot deliver.

Forward-looking retrofit strategies

Instead of isolated measures, retail properties require structured, long-term retrofit strategies. Metabuild develops AI-supported retrofit roadmaps that account for remaining component lifetimes and intelligently phase investments over time. This avoids redundant work and allows budgets to be used up to 30% more efficiently — without compromising CO₂ reduction or occupant comfort.

Attractiveness as a key success factor

Quality of stay now directly affects lettability and revenue. Metabuild simulates daylight, thermal comfort and indoor air quality at the highest level of precision. This shows not only how operating costs can be reduced, but also how attractiveness for tenants and customers can be measurably increased.

Maximum certainty in the decisive early design phases

The greatest leverage in retail development lies in the early stages. Metabuild simulates thousands of variants for building form, façade, building systems and energy supply, showing whether a concept is truly close to its optimum. Higher glazing ratios for improved daylight? Heat pump versus district heating? We provide robust, data-backed answers and act as a second opinion to ensure no relevant potential remains unused.

Identifying value risks early

For investors, one thing is clear: retail properties with high energy demand and CO₂ emissions risk losing their long-term financing viability. Metabuild goes beyond the current state and evaluates scenarios for carbon pricing, energy transitions and ESG developments. The result is full transparency on stranding risk — and on the costs required to safeguard asset value over time.

Scientifically grounded, proven in practice

Our methodology is built on more than eight years of real-world project experience and has been developed and refined through multiple European research initiatives. All variants are simulated using internationally recognised calculation engines such as EnergyPlus and combined with detailed quantity- and cost-based modelling. The result is analysis that stands up to scrutiny — and supports confident decisions by investors, operators and developers alike.