Office Building

The right formula: well thought-out window concept, uniform formats and resource-saving products

On a new office building in Aachen, nbp architects (Roetgen) showed how timeless architecture can be brilliantly combined with forward-looking concepts that benefit the working environments and sustainability. The result is a building full of character with a long life span and optimal working conditions for the employees of a foundry technology company. With the facade of light-coloured glassfibre reinforced concrete panels and matching shaped elements from Rieder, the planners created an exciting balance of subtlety and charm and stylish design. Consistent formats and replicable details make up a large part of the elegant architecture and also play a key role in terms of cost effectiveness and sustainability.

A new office building was constructed in the north of Aachen, in the immediate vicinity of the educational and research facilities of RWTH Aachen University. On the outside, the building has a timeless appearance, but its sustainability, energy efficiency and durability make it state-of-the-art architecturally and technically.

Metes and bounds

A balanced distribution and mostly constant format of the windows are an important factor when it comes to sustainability and cost efficiency. The uniform geometry helps reduce purchase costs and delivers total flexibility in terms of interior use. On the basis of the grid pattern of the windows, walls can always be moved at any time and rooms restructured. When it came to choosing the facade material, the architects focused on lightness and sustainability. Rieder’s concrete skin panels and formparts in the colour sahara are used for the building core. The Austrian company Rieder supplied a total of 1,700 square metres of glassfibre reinforced concrete in the form of large-format panels and U-shaped elements. The pilaster strips between the windows not only enhance the appearance of the building, as sun protection they also play an important role in the building’s energy concept.

Be it flat or shaped: impressive ecological & practical facts

The facade panels demonstrated their suitability in terms of the synergies with the architects’ visual concept and they also impressed with their ecological and technical conditions. “The facade material’s high durability, recyclability and versatility in terms of constructive application in detail were decisive factors for us“, says Andreas Trick of nbp architects about their decision to choose Rieder’s products.

The malleability of glassfibre reinforced concrete means that it can be smoothly shaped around corners and edges. The formed parts have a thickness of only 13 mm and are available in various designs. Pre-assembly in the factory, independent of weather conditions, guarantees a high quality standard and rapid assembly on site. The delicate-looking yet robust custom-made elements are assembled according to requirements and create a smooth facade appearance. The formparts22 product innovation by Rieder is available with a sharp as well as a rounded edge. Various surfaces and textures are available, which can be individually combined with each other.

plug & play: new mounting system

The jointed formed parts are connected using different mounting brackets depending on size. As a system supplier, Rieder provides coordinated components, resulting in an integrated solution from a single source. The simple plug & play anchorage system allows on-site adjustment, high fitting accuracy and concealed mounting. The mounting options are compatible with all standard supporting structures and are a time-saving, economical and sustainable alternative. Rieder makes available a library of standard details for the planning of facades with formed parts.

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