KIT Launches Project on Blue-Green Campus Development

Interdisciplinary Expertise to enhance Climate Resilience at Campuses North, South, and East
Fermi-See on Campus South: small pond with greenish water, various plants, and surrounding trees and benches, the Physics building in the background. Silke Rittershofer, KIT
Moving closer to nature: A new project at KIT sees central administration, technical infrastructure, and researchers jointly advancing a model-based expansion of blue-green infrastructures.

As heat waves intensify, heavy rainfall events become more frequent, and biodiversity declines, blue-green infrastructures (BGI) are gaining importance in cities and across large institutional properties. BGI integrate green spaces, trees, and vegetated systems with sustainable water management solutions – such as unsealing, rainwater retention, and infiltration. In doing so, BGI contribute significantly to climate adaptation while enhancing the quality of stay and the overall campus experience.

Against this backdrop, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has launched the “Advancing Blue-Green Infrastructure at KIT” project in January. Building on the Basic Project Sustainability completed in fall 2025, the initiative will develop a framework to guide climate-resilient and ecologically oriented development across KIT’s North, South, and East campuses by the end of 2026.

Infrastructure Development as Real-World Lab

A defining feature of the project is the close collaboration between central administration, technical infrastructure, and academic research. KIT’s institutes of Geography and Geoecology, Plant Sciences, and Water and Environment are involved, alongside the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research as an external partner.

“We are bringing together expertise from planning, operations, and research. This constellation enables us to translate scientific insights directly into actionable concepts for our campuses—with an impact extending well beyond KIT,” says project lead Andreas Filusch-Kreuzer from the Division Planning and Construction Projects.

Key areas of focus include unsealing of suitable surfaces, implementing retention systems such as rainwater storage and infiltration facilities, and expanding green roofs and façades. Based on comprehensive site analyses, the project will develop a guiding framework that aligns future measures with established practices such as the careful use of open spaces during events and a scientific tree monitoring program.

jha, March 10, 2026