The Christmas holidays are over, and we are starting the new year with full energy. But how did the past year go at Lorenz Consult, and what can we expect in 2025? Our CEO, Christian Lorenz, looks back on 2024 and outlines the most important trends and topics in civil engineering for this year.
What were your professional or personal highlights in 2024?
Last year, we again had an excellent order situation, which is why we are currently expanding our office in Vienna. Additionally, we are planning further expansion, with a new location opening in Munich in 2025.
Another professional highlight was our efforts to become more sustainable as a company. We have introduced a sustainability officer and are in the process of organizing our mobility more sustainably. We also worked with an external consultant in the first half of 2024 to further develop our sustainability strategy.
Personal highlights for me were how well our team works together and the enthusiasm our employees have for their work. Another highlight was the selection of Marlies Lafer as “Employee of the Year” by her colleagues during our Christmas party. I am also pleased that Lorenz Consult has once again received the Top Company award from kununu.
What exciting projects did you implement for clients in 2024, and what made them special?
In each of our core areas of expertise, there were exciting projects that started, are in the middle of implementation, or were completed in 2024. Examples include the crane track beam replacement at voestalpine in Linz, the book depot for the University of Vienna, and a completed construction phase at the WKO Steiermark Center of Excellence. At the start of the year, I am already looking forward to many interesting and sustainable projects, both large and small, in the coming months.
What lessons do you take from the civil engineering/construction planning year 2024 for the future?
It is very important to have a clear idea of the goals you want to achieve. Equally important is to look forward to achieving these goals. In other words, focus on the WHAT, and trust that the HOW will find its way. What is needed is openness to new approaches and the belief that the path to achieving the goal will be found. This approach leads to greater calm and confidence for all of us – and that applies not only to civil engineering and construction planning.
What trends do you see in the civil engineering industry for 2025, and what topics should be at the top of the agenda in civil engineering offices next year, and why?
One of the most urgent topics is future-oriented, climate-neutral construction and renovation. Civil engineering plays a key role in the construction of sustainable buildings. Planning sustainably means primarily striving for the long-term compatibility of a (construction) project. Climate-neutral life-cycle planning and circular economy, as well as affordability and economic viability, are the current buzzwords in civil engineering and construction planning.
Another topic is the ongoing digitalization in construction, which makes many things easier. Since AI relies heavily on the evaluation of data and images, I see the greatest potential in planning and execution preparation. There is also much potential for AI in documenting construction progress and subsequently creating as-built documentation. AI can also assist in determining the costs of buildings during the planning phase by analyzing and processing cost data from numerous completed projects to make forecasts.
A third important issue, in times of skilled labor shortages, is providing good training for the next generation and making the profession more attractive. For this reason, we will again be present at career and job information fairs in 2025 to inspire new talent for a career in our industry. Individual further training for our employees will also remain an important part of our corporate culture in 2025.
