Award-winning Schüco company headquarters

“The concept of sustainability has dominated from the very beginning and significantly influenced the design. A variety of requirements had to be combined together and a coherent design developed covering all of the sustainability criteria,” explains Jesper Bork, Project Manager at 3XN Architects. “We paid particular attention to the choice of materials. Every material used in the building has been tested and approved in the same way as the installed products. To be installed in Schüco One, the materials had to be subsequently recyclable and have good emission values.” These efforts towards a sustainable building design, energy-saving operation and a healthy work environment have now been recognised by DGNB, LEED and BREEAM, the three internationally renowned certification systems for sustainable construction.

Schüco One received the two most prestigious awards from the DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council): the Platinum award for sustainability and the Diamond award for cultural and design quality. “The DGNB certification is seen as the most demanding certification system in the world. The project received a Platinum award, which is the highest reward level, as well as the DGNB Diamond award for exceptional design and cultural quality. This demonstrates the high sustainability requirements to which the new Schüco headquarters was planned and built,” says Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO of the DGNB.

Schüco One also received an award from the LEED certification label (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The new headquarters was awarded the highest LEED certification, Platinum, for the implementation of sustainability criteria in the categories Location and Transportation, Resource Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation and Materials. The building managed to fulfil 80.48% of the assessment criteria for the BREEAM certificate. “Schüco One took the question of climate change into account right from the very beginning. Inspired by Cradle to Cradle, an exceptional solution was created which shows how good architecture and a holistic sustainability concept can be brought together,” states Dr Peter Mösle, Partner at Drees & Sommer and Managing Director at EPEA GmbH.

In addition to the three sustainability certifications, the verification of all the materials delivered to the construction site in accordance with the Sentinel Haus Institut standard confirms that the office building environment is very healthy. “As part of our health-related quality management system, we provided all those involved in the project with a high level of support. Training for the investors, planners and craftsmen, together with the products in our online platform Sentinel Portal which are tested in accordance with health requirements, the site inspections carried out by our Quality Managers, and the concluding ambient air measurements of the site all contribute towards a more healthy work environment. The colleagues at Schüco benefit from this as well as the company itself, as it results in more motivated workers and less time off due to illness,” explains Peter Bachmann, Managing Director of the Sentinel Haus Institut.

The entire façade system is also Cradle to Cradle certified (C2C). The use of C2C certified materials and products ensures that the building continues to be of value once it reaches the end of its useful life, as its components can be returned to the technical material cycle. This supports the circular economy and reduces the amount of waste in landfills.

The innovative energy concept of Schüco One also plays its part in the certifications. The low-maintenance building services aim to ensure energy-efficient operation of the building. The heating requirements of Schüco One are primarily covered by the local district heating network, but a geothermal heat pump is also available. The building is ventilated using a displacement ventilation system with integrated heat recovery. Employees can also open or close the windows themselves as necessary. Natural ventilation by means of manual window ventilation is therefore possible on all storeys and in nearly all workspaces.

The façade construction in particular, which has been custom-built by Schüco Engineering, plays a crucial role in the sustainability of the building. It combines aesthetic qualities with the technical features of Schüco systems. The ground floor envelope is transparent on all sides and looks like a glass podium, on top of which a folded sculpture sits. The top six floors consist of alternating transparent and opaque units, creating a dynamic look. The façade folds in and out like an accordion. This structure not only looks stunning, it also prevents the rooms inside from overheating. Nevertheless, the façade still allows the interior to be flooded with daylight. The same is true of the glass roof above the central atrium, for which a Schüco AOC add-on construction with a mechatronic roof window system has been used. Sun shading is provided by electrochromic glass; when it is very sunny, the glass darkens and restricts solar heat gain, but remains transparent at all times, providing an unobstructed view of the sky.

The façade features a combination of an attractive appearance and innovative technology in a compact form. Its complex geometry was only made possible by digitally controlled production methods, which were further facilitated by the BIM-based design of the building. The high degree of prefabrication of the façade ensured that it could be installed on schedule. The main façade with its six upper floors is based on the Schüco AWS 75.SI+ window system. The façade has been designed as a special construction with a 90 mm basic depth and achieves the desired U value of 1.0 W/(m²K). The alternating fixed glazed units, side-hung windows with limiting stays and solid panels give the façade a sort of rhythm as well as its shape.

The electrically-operated and system-integrated Schüco Integralmaster glare protection system ensures that the workspaces remain free from glare in accordance with workplace guidelines. The external Schüco CSB roller sun shading provides the interior with shade from the first to the sixth floor as well as some areas of the ground floor. Its guide track is concealed in the profile and a clear view of the outdoors is guaranteed at all times – even when the blinds are completely lowered. The terrace exits have been designed using AWS 90 window doors as a special construction.

In the entrance area, a section of green façade forms the transition area between Schüco One and the existing building, which was the former company headquarters. This green façade emphasises the sustainable nature of this construction project. The Schüco Green Façade system solution was used, in which plants take root and grow in a fleece-based material filled with substrate. Green façades like this clean the air, contribute to a positive micro and macro climate, and promote biodiversity.