The "New Ganghofer" office building in Munich's Westend district is currently being transformed into a multi-tenant workspace with new usage and design concepts. A minimally invasive approach is being pursued – replacing the window vents has already significantly improved the energy balance, while a unique recycling concept ensures circularity.
| Type of Building | Office and administration |
| Product areas | Windows |
| Schüco Systems | AWS 75.SI+ ADS 80 FR 30 FireStop ADS 90 FR30 SensTrack wireless |
| Features | Refurbishment Decarbonization |
| Location | München, Germany |
| Completion | 2025 |
| Architects | Oliv GmbH Thomas Sutor Architekt |
| Specialist company | Forster Fassadentechnik GmbH |
| Picture credits | © Tell Us GmbH |
The prominent office complex on Ganghoferstraße, formerly used as KPMG's headquarters, is being redeveloped under the name "New Ganghofer" into modern office environments with flexible workspaces, green roof terraces and attractive access zones with a public "work café". Improving the energy efficiency of the office building, which is now over 20 years old, plays a key role in the renovation concept of Oliv Architekten, based in Munich. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of building operations with low energy consumption in accordance with KfW 55 standards. In addition to renovating the building envelope, the flat roof is also being modernised and prepared for future use as a terrace. The aim is to achieve DGNB Gold certification.
The major interventions in the building structure make the existing building a prototype for revitalisation. Following an in-depth analysis of the existing structure, the client opted to preserve as much of the original fabric as possible. For the façade, for example, only the windows were replaced to improve energy efficiency. Schüco developed a solution to enable a minimally invasive intervention. While the outer frames remain unchanged, the double-vent vents are being replaced, complete with new glazing and fittings. A new window profile was developed for the vents and seamlessly integrates into the existing frames, which were implemented as a special construction in 2002. The façade has been refurbished by installing new window vents with triple glazing, enabling the energy efficiency and sound insulation requirements to be met.
At the client's request, Schüco also developed a recycling concept for renovating the building envelope, which enabled 2643 window vents to be collected and fed back into the material cycle. The materials are separated directly on site – dismantled profiles, gaskets and panes of glass are sorted and recycled. Initial estimates indicate that around 43 tonnes of aluminium units will be recovered for the production of new window profiles, which equates to a metal recycling rate of 95 percent. By feeding the old windows back into the raw material cycle and ordering 52 tonnes of Ultra Low Carbon (ULC) aluminium for the new window vents, the "New Ganghofer" project is a model example of successful decarbonisation.
Aluminium and glass can be recycled particularly efficiently if both materials are considered together in renovation projects. In cooperation with Saint-Gobain, Schüco recovers glass from existing buildings and, together with the dismantled aluminium, feeds it into the recycling cycle. From the more than 2,600 dismantled window sashes, 65% of the glazing was recycled and processed into CO₂-reduced ORAÉ flat glass from Saint-Gobain Glass. Investors, architects and fabricators benefit from a comprehensive service that includes the return, recycling and transparent documentation of both materials.
