Surname, first name: Ahrens, Christian Peter
Nationality: German
City, country: Hamburg, Germany
Degree programme/degree: Dipl.-Ing. Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology
Year of graduation: 1997
Employer and position: Peter Ahrens Bauunternehmer GmbH, Managing Partner

"Communicating with different people at eye level"

You grew up in a family of civil engineers, so did it make sense that you decided to study this subject at the TU Hamburg?

In a way, yes. While I was still at school, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in our family business and was able to gain my first practical experience in various areas. However, I have always been fascinated by the natural sciences, which is why I initially decided to study chemistry at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, where I also graduated. During my studies, however, I increasingly realised that my heart beat for our family business and that I saw my future there. I was therefore drawn to the TU Hamburg, where the Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology degree programme prepared me perfectly for my future tasks.

How would you describe the character of the TU Hamburg in three words?

Hamburg University of Technology stands for modernity. As a campus university, intensive exchange between students and lecturers is encouraged and targeted research projects pave the way for later implementation in practice.

Was there an unforgettable experience for you during your time at the TU?
Completing my degree was definitely an unforgettable highlight. I was awarded the diploma prize of the Hamburg construction industry for my diploma thesis on “Design of a telecommunications tower”. I invested a lot of time in this project at the time and was therefore delighted to receive this award.

You are now the fourth generation to run the construction company Peter Ahrens. How have the demands on the construction industry changed?
Since my great-grandfather founded the construction company in 1902, the construction industry has changed fundamentally. Originally started as a bricklaying and concrete construction company, we have now completed the transformation to a digitalised general contractor. One current development, for example, is the increasing focus on sustainable construction. The demand for green building concepts, in which we specialise, is a clear indicator of the change in market requirements. Such concepts include not only the use of environmentally friendly materials, but above all innovative approaches to energy efficiency and the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Despite the technological innovations, craftsmanship remains at the heart of our work. It is the foundation on which our company is built..

How do you manage to maintain the balance between tradition and innovation in your family business, and what role does the next generation play in this?
For me, these are by no means opposites. Our company has continued to develop over the generations and has also survived difficult phases in the construction industry. This is only possible through a willingness to change and adapt to market conditions. I believe it is crucial to involve the different generations with their different strengths. Our project management team is young, and at the same time we have employees such as experienced foremen who have been with us for over 25 years. It is precisely this mix that enables a good exchange and mutual learning. In addition, two of our children are already actively involved in the company. As part of their academic training and their personal passions for the construction industry, I am delighted to see how they are currently contributing and I am excited to see how our company will continue to develop in the future with this boost of ideas.

What should graduates looking for a career in the construction industry bring to the table?
In addition to sound technical knowledge, above all team spirit and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of people on an equal footing. Expertise in digital tools and technologies is now just as important. In our industry, it is also essential to have a strong willingness to take on responsibility. In a medium-sized company like ours, committed graduates are given the opportunity to develop quickly and take on challenging areas of responsibility.

What would you ask an omniscient researcher from the future? 
I would ask him how we could achieve a completely sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply without harmful emissions or unwanted waste products. This is one of the key questions of our time, and I don't think there is a suitable answer at the moment.

If you were President of the TU Hamburg ...
... I would continue to drive forward the national and international networking of research, development, application and alumni and thus consistently pursue the path we have already taken.