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Sustainable construction in practice: Insights from alumna and lecturer Sabrina Seebacher

Sabrina Seebacher knows the university course Sustainable Construction from two perspectives: As a graduate of this course and today as a lecturer, passing on her knowledge to new students. In this interview, she talks about the reasons sustainable construction only works on an interdisciplinary basis, why uncomfortable questions are often the most important ones, and what really helps graduates in their everyday working lives.

[Translate to English:] Sabrina Seebacher @ Porr

Sustainable construction is no longer a niche topic, but putting it into practice remains complex. Between material selection, circular economy, certification requirements, and ESG expectations, professionals in the construction sector are under increasing pressure to make decisions that are technically, economically, and ecologically viable. 

In this interview, Sabrina Seebacher, Team Leader for Sustainable Construction & Innovation Waste Management & Environment PORR AG, opens an external URL in a new window and graduate and lecturer in the Sustainable Construction program at TU Wien Academy, explains why interdisciplinary thinking is essential, how practical methods make a difference—and why uncomfortable questions often lead to better buildings.

Was there a specific "aha" moment during the course, or a skill that helps you solve complex challenges more quickly today?

There wasn't really a single "aha" moment.
It was more a collection of insights that gradually came together to form an overall picture. 

It was particularly striking to see how crucial the interaction between different disciplines is. Sustainable construction only works when architecture, technology, ecology, and economics actually communicate with each other. Otherwise, sustainability remains a gray theory. 

Especially when it comes to topics such as certification, material selection, or ESG compliance, it quickly becomes clear that individual knowledge is not enough. The course sharpens precisely this systemic thinking and makes it possible to classify complex requirements more quickly and make more informed decisions.

What tools or methods do students acquire today to be effective immediately after graduation?

A key point is taking a realistic view of materials and processes.
The focus is not on the ideal, but on how things actually work in practice. 

Students learn to consistently ask questions:
Where does a material come from?
How is it used?
And above all: How can it be recovered? 

We work a lot with material flows, simple life cycle assessments, and concrete examples from the waste and recycling sector. We deliberately also look at solutions that are not perfectly recyclable, because that is where it gets exciting.

Those who understand why something cannot be recycled will plan better next time. Interdisciplinary exchange plays a central role here - sustainable construction is always teamwork.

From your dual perspective as an alumna and lecturer, what added value does the course offer?

The course creates a common understanding of how complex sustainable construction really is. And that is precisely what makes graduates so valuable on the market. 

Many alumni are now those who ask uncomfortable but necessary questions in projects: about demolition, reuse, or waste prevention. They are not always the most popular voices in the room, but are very often the ones that matter. 

The degree signals that this is someone who understands the circular economy not as a buzzword, but as a viable concept. In an increasingly regulated and demanding market, this is a clear competitive advantage.

Interested?

The university course Sustainable Construction is aimed at anyone who not only wants to understand sustainable construction processes, but also wants to actively shape them in a practical, interdisciplinary way and with a clear focus on feasibility.

More about the course & registration:
https://www.tuwien.at/ace/programme/universitaetslehrgaenge/nachhaltiges-bauen