Construction crews in Germany recently uncovered the foundations of a 15th-century monastery church while excavating for a new health center.

Mar 19, 2026 | News

What looked like a routine development site revealed massive brick walls more than 4 feet thick, preserved underground for centuries.

For those in commercial real estate and development, this is a reminder:

What’s underground can reshape a project
Historic sites often carry hidden layers of prior development
Unexpected discoveries can impact timelines, design, and costs

In this case, archaeologists must now document and preserve the remains before construction continues, forcing engineers to reconsider where foundations and utilities can go.

Even modern projects can sit on centuries of prior land use—a factor developers sometimes discover only after construction begins.

https://www.earth.com/news/workers-accidentally-find-the-foundations-of-medieval-monastery-borken

Dylan Cunningham

J Dylan Cunningham, CCIM is the founder of Oak Street Commercial Real Estate, LLC, a firm located in Apex, NC on a mission to help business owners and commercial real estate owners create long-term strategies that align with their objectives through real estate.

We believe in going beyond the transaction, taking a deep look at where you want to be in five, ten or even twenty years from now—and how we can help you get there with thoughtful, strategic decisions today.