Industrial landmark as a structural statement of the energy revolution

Constructed between 1908 and 1910, the gas tanks supplied the city with gas for decades and could store up to 160,000 cubic metres of fuel. The imposing steel structure, which was granted listed building status in 1994, has been a defining feature of the cityscape as a symbol of Berlin's Industrial Age. After being decommissioned, however, the building stood empty for a long time – until the site became part of the EUREF-Campus innovation park and the new owners presented a project to re-design the landmark.

As part of the development of the EUREF-Campus, EUREF AG fully renovated the Gasometer from 2007 onwards. The aim was to transform the historic building into a symbol of the energy revolution and sustainable urban development. An 15-storey office tower with around 35,000 square meters of useable space was integrated into the steel structure – with a respectful distance of one metre from the historic building. The outer steel construction was renovated in line with listed building requirements. The renovation was completed in 2024 and the steel construction was transformed into a modern office centre that will meet climate neutrality standards until 2045.

Within the gas tank framework, an 15-storey building was erected which looks like it is suspended in the steel ring. The translucent building envelope emphasises the contemporary uses without dominating or distorting the historical character. For the façades, the Schüco AWS 90 BS and Schüco CTB systems were used to ensure maximum energy efficiency and natural light. The entire complex is fitted with technologies to reduce energy consumption and use renewable energy sources. Modern sun shading systems like CTB from Schüco have been used in an integrated way, to ensure a balance of climate protection, natural daylight and creative subtlety.

The façade units were fully prefabricated in the workshop, complete with glazing, gasket levels and mechanical attachments, then delivered to the building site ready for installation. This ensured fabrication was possible in any weather with the best machining quality and easy-to-calculate costs. The high level of prefabrication greatly simplified the construction site logistics, reduced installation times to a minimum and ensured that even an extraordinary building like the Gasometer could be fitted with an attractive, energy-efficient building envelope in a very short period of time. Its incredible installation scenario – with only one metre's width of space between the steel construction and building shell – was handled with confidence. A specially developed track system transported the units, which were up to eight metres tall and two tonnes in weight, precisely around the building before they were craned in at their installation height. The unitised construction method enabled fast, reliable and ultra-precise installation – a key factor for a project of this scale.

Thanks to the comprehensive renovation, the Gasometer has become a symbol of a new beginning. The building is now the central element of the EUREF Campus, supporting digitalisation, innovative energy use and international meetings with stunning panoramic views over Berlin. The project proves that the architecturally complex re-designing of decommissioned gasometers can be an economical, reliable and sustainable process, while also offering inspiration for the conversion of numerous other industrial buildings that are waiting for their future.