Architecture Reflects Company Culture

Press release
2.06.2014 / Further information about publication:
Schüco International KG
Ulrike Krüger
Karolinenstr. 1-15
33609 Bielefeld
Tel.: +49 (0)521 783-803
Fax: +49 (0)521 783-950803
E-mail:

Vodafone Campus, Düsseldorf

Architecture reflects company culture

From a functional perspective, the new Vodafone group headquarters in Düsseldorf is a self-contained office campus. The spatial arrangement, technical façade design and diverse “social” uses of the campus buildings express openness, team focus and power of innovation. In terms of architecture and building technology, this policy is reinforced by the use of energy-efficient, highly transparent Schüco system technology for the façades and interior design.

The construction of the new company headquarters of Vodafone Deutschland took place on the redevelopment site of a former brewery in the well-known business district of Seestern. HPP Architekten won the competition held to determine the urban re-structuring of the site in 2003. The plans were fleshed out in 2008 and 2010, with the result that upon completion in December 2012, following 24 months of non-stop construction, the campus could be created.

High-rise and inner courtyard

The ensemble of buildings of the Vodafone campus is defined by an oval, 19-storey high-rise, which also marks the main entrance. This striking tower – together with an adjoining, arch-shaped building structure – forms a curved, structurally closed border demarcating the city from the busy transport hub of Heerdter Dreieck. At the western gate to the city, the high-rise is therefore a landmark that can be seen from miles around.

Encircling the internal Ferdinand-Braun-Platz and its BerkshireGarden, the high-rise and adjoining block of buildings are the unique features of the new headquarters. The open and communicative attitude of the company is emphasised by the courtyard’s public accessibility. At the southern end of Neuwerker Straße, a footpath across park-like terrain belonging to the utility company Stadtwerke Düsseldorf connects the campus to the green space around AlbertusLake.

Unified, technical façade design

Horizontally structured façades with exterior shading units made from perforated sheet aluminium lend the ensemble a uniform appearance. Offset ribbon façades create lively divisions in the block of buildings and therefore integrate the newbuilds into their urban environment.

The Vodafone Campus can be accessed via secondary building entrances from the central courtyard and public roads. The primary address is on the ground floor of the high-rise in Ferdinand-Braun-Platz. Here visitors are received in a spacious foyer – combined with a café-bar, adjacent lounge area and a Vodafone shop. The 18 floors above can be reached via a group of six lifts in the core of the building.

Small entrance halls facing towards the courtyard provide the main access to all other buildings of the ensemble. Stair and lift cores in their middle zones connect the office areas of the upper floors. They have a depth of about 20 metres and a façade module / fit-out grid of 1.25 - 1.35 m, allowing a flexible layout with open, communicative room structures. Every usable unit can therefore be divided into open workspace groups, meeting and communication zones and individual office cubicles. The office areas are ventilated mechanically throughout. There are currently around 5200 employees working at the campus. Whilst the aforementioned office structures determine how the space is used on the upper floors, the space on the ground floor has been divided into various special uses at the request of Vodafone.

Underground service and car park level

A single storey was constructed under the central campus. Located beneath the buildings are primarily the requisite decentralised service areas. Below the surface of the inner courtyard and connected to all building cores is an underground car park, offering 427 parking spaces. The accompanying multi-storey car park provides additional parking with a further 1571 spaces.

Adjacent to and north of the Vodafone campus, a company crèche has been built onto the existing residential building. Up to 70 children aged from three months to three years are cared for in this separate building.

Multi-functional unitised façades

The use of large glazed system units in façades and in the interior of the Vodafone campus conveys openness and transparency as significant architectural forms of expression. The Schüco USC 65 unitised façade was used above the ground floors of the high-rise and buildings A, B and C. Precisely 4512 façade units equipped with neutral solar shading glazing were installed. Technical features include the bottom-hung windows for ventilation integrated into the spandrel area, the polygonal installation of the units in the high-rise with special mullions, as well as the attachment of fixed solar shading louvre blades made from rounded perforated sheet metal in large parts of the façades of the block of buildings (buildings A, B and C).

On the ground floor of all the buildings the façades were made as mullion/transom constructions. Here and on the adjoining floors above, implementation to resistance classes RC2 and RC3 met exacting requirements concerning burglar resistance. In almost all areas, the glazing and system constructions are suitable for safety barrier loading in accordance with the requirements of TRAV. In its special configuration, the façade meets high sound-reduction requirements (R'wR up to 45 dB) and a UCW value of 1.6 W/m²K. Entirely mechanical ventilation of all office areas creates a pleasant room climate all year round.

Transparency even with fire protection

The central idea behind a light, open room design continues in the interior of the buildings and has even been put into practice where there are special requirements concerning fire and smoke protection. All access points to the requisite stairwells, emergency exits and escape routes as well as lift shafts have therefore been fitted with transparent single and double-leaf fire protection barriers. Large glazed T 30 and T 90 fire doors, which are often fitted with glazed side sections and toplights, protect against fire, smoke and heat radiation in the case of a blaze. They also form fire zones that help to prevent a hostile fire from spreading. The transparent design of these units also contributes towards safe evacuation and rescue as they allow those escaping and rescuers to view neighbouring zones directly. The approximately 600 door constructions for fire and smoke protection were installed with the Schüco ADS 65.NI SP, Schüco ADS 80 FR 30 and Schüco Firestop T90 systems. Many of the doors were fitted with a new lock system (Schüco EC lock), which allows the operator to make a type of day setting using an outside handle that can be connected electrically. For all fire doors, EPDs were issued for the LEED certification.

The transparent fire-resistant façade in the interior of the high-rise is a special structural fire-protection feature that was created with the Schüco FW 60+ BF system. Most of the system constructions for the façade and interior cited were fabricated in parts by the Munich-based specialist façade and metal construction companies Dobler Metallbau GmbH, Scheffer Metallbautechnik GmbH from Sassenberg as well as Lamann & Co. GmbH from Schüttorf between May 2011 and February 2012.

LEED Gold certification

The ensemble of buildings of the Vodafone Campus combines comfort, aesthetics and high quality of use with stringent fire-protection and safety requirements, as well as sustainable energy efficiency. The LEED Gold certification sought is an expression of these special qualities – the certification process was at the point of completion in October 2013. Construction was monitored by DEKRA quality controls.

Schüco – System solutions for windows, doors, façades and solar products.

Together with its worldwide network of partners, architects, specifiers and investors, Schüco creates sustainable building envelopes which focus on people and their needs in harmony with nature and technology. The highest demands for design, comfort and security can be met, whilst simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions through energy efficiency, thereby conserving natural resources. The company and its Metal, PVC-U and New Energies divisions deliver tailored products for newbuilds and renovations, designed to meet individual user needs in all climate zones. With 5000 employees and 12,000 partner companies, Schüco is active in 78 countries and achieved a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2012. For more information, visit

Further information about publication:

Schüco International KG

Ulrike Krüger

Karolinenstr. 1 - 15

33609 Bielefeld

Tel.: +49 (0)521 783-803

Fax: +49 (0)521 783-657

E-mail:

Uses of the campus buildings

Building H:Ground floor:Reception, foyer, café-bar,

Vodafone shop

Floors 1-17 Offices

Floor 18InnovationCenter

RoofViewing platform, service

areas

Basement Service areas

Building A: Ground floor Conference area, training

Floors 1-8Offices

RoofAntennae technology,

service areas

Basement Service areas

Building B: Ground floorRestaurant, deliveries, post

room

Floors 1-5Offices

RoofAntennae technology,

service areas

BasementKitchen, service areas,

storeroom

Building C: Ground floor Events area, café / kiosk,

hairdresser

Company doctor, fitness centre, copy shop

Floors 1-8Offices

RoofAntennae

technology, service areas

BasementService areas, fitness

centre changing rooms

Crèche: Ground floor Reception, group rooms,

office

Floors 1-2Group rooms

BasementStaffrooms, service area,

storeroom

Car park: Basement – 5th floorCar park

Project details

Project title: Vodafone Campus Düsseldorf, construction of the new company headquarters of Vodafone Deutschland

Client: developer Objekt Düsseldorf VCD-Realisierungs-GmbH & Co. KG, Düsseldorf

Architect: HPP Architekten, Düsseldorf

Main contractor: ARGE Vodafone Campus Düsseldorf Zechbau GmbH / Ed. Züblin AG

Fire protection concept: HHP West, Bielefeld

Gross floor area: 144,525 m² in total

Work spaces: 5200 (including desk sharing and staff working from home: space for 5500 employees)

Competition: First prize in 2003

Construction period: 2010 – 2012

Completion date: 2012

GreenBuilding: LEED Gold (sought)

Fabricator:

Façades: Dobler Metallbau GmbH, Munich, Scheffer Metallbautechnik GmbH, Sassenberg

Fire protection: Dobler Metallbau GmbH, Munich, Lamann & Co GmbH

Schüttorf

Schüco products

Schüco USC 65 unitised façade with fixed solar shading louvre blades attached

Schüco FW 60+ BF fire-resistant façade

Schüco ADS 65.NI SP smoke doors

T30 and Schüco ADS 80 FR 30 fire doors, single and double-leaf, partly with side sections and toplights

T90 and Schüco Firestop T90 fire doors, single and double-leaf, partly with side sections and toplights

Schüco ADS 75 HD external doors, highly automated and with RC 2 / RC 3 specification