Congenial architecture, environmental protection down to the last detail

In the construction of our company headquarters in Stuttgart, we have broken new ground and realized an overall solution in which our skills in construction technology were challenged to the full – and in which the creativity and performance of our staff will be optimally encouraged.

Ultimately we want to demonstrate in our own new premises, just what can be achieved these days with innovative technology. Thus, our headquarters represents the paragon for our standards in matters of environmental protection, while at the same time it is one of our most important references – our corporate culture so to speak.

Thereby, the actual development area at our disposal at the start of the project, was not very big. An already existing M+W Zander production plant operating on the approximately 2 hectare site had to be integrated within the expansion construction in which administration, reception, conference facilities, technology center, planning and construction – and last but not least, the spacious car park created in 1996, had to be brought under one roof.  Incidentally, construction work was carried out parallel to day-to-day operational functions, without impeding production.

With regard to the architectural design and the technical facility equipment, both accomplishments broke new ground.

Representative architecture orientated to staff requirements
The architecture is distinguished by spaciousness and transparency embodied in the pronounced social conception of the offices – any visitor is immediately impressed by the glass offices, which presuppose and foster great transparency. The entire building is pervaded by light. The demands of representation and staff orientation are thus optimally united.

The roof-garden, spacious courtyard and open terraces were immediately a great attraction to both staff and visitors. The winter gardens, which besides other functions, serve as conference rooms, set a particular accent in the ambient and are at the same time components of the ecologically devised construction technology, in that they serve the production of passive solar energy.

Exemplary ecological construction technology
Ecology in harmony with functionality and a congenial climate for the staff, were the conditions for the construction technology of the building.

The fundamental elements are:

• Thermal solar collectors over an area of 300 m² ensure warm water supply by means of high-performance vacuum pipe collectors; heat continues to be supplied on cold winter days.
• Together with the absorption refrigeration system, this free warm water is used to produce cold water for the canopy ceilings.
• 240 parallel connected photovoltaic modules for supplementary power supply. The photovoltaic installation’s annual energy yield is 185,000 KWh = 500 KWh/m².
• Besides its function in power production, the installation, which is integrated in the south façade, also provides necessary shade.  
• Block-type thermal power stations for the coupled generation of electric and thermal power, consisting of a gas Otto engine with controlled three-way catalytic converter and an absorption cooler; 115 KW of electric and 185 KW of thermal energy are generated by an overall efficiency factor of 88%.
• The absorption cooler yields 560 KW cooling capacity and 800 KW thermal output, thermal ratio: 0,7
• The plant’s heat requirements are covered by the Otto engine and by the solar power plant; in the case of peak loads supplemented by a condensing boiler – this process requires no CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and is ecologically very effective.
• The building’s air conditioning is effected by means of concrete core temperature control in connection with displacement ventilation.  
• 46 kilometers of plastic pipes are set in concrete in the building’s ceilings and take care of the provision of both cooling and heating.
• Cooling is conveniently generated overnight through the so called “unrestricted cooling“, or by means of the absorber. It is subsequently stored, prior to being made available during the daytime.  
• The applied fresh air rate is approximately double that which is determined by the DIN standard, fresh air is introduced according to the displacement principle, namely, via an outlet in the flooring and also through a base installation displacement diffuser.
• Up to 90% of the discharged air is extracted through a system of ducts located beneath the ceilings of the offices: heat is regained through heat transfer plates.
• A rain water collection tank with a storage capacity of 1,000 cm3 completely serves the supply of sanitary process water as well as the garden irrigation; it is integrated in the foundations of the approach ramp spindle in the parking facility

All in all one must concede that the staff are well provided for in this highly streamlined engineering fabrication with its distinct emphasis on the “well-being” factor and remarkably low emission readings.

The building:

• Total surface area 10,000 m²
• Office capacity for X.00 employees
• 2 large lecture theaters
• 24 conference rooms with a total of 230 seats
• Casino with 200 seats
• Parking facilities with 250 lots

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