The Schüco Campus. Renovation. Extension. Newbuild

The Schüco Campus. Renovation. Extension. Newbuild.

The world is changing. Always. And ever faster. Some people see this as a threat. We see it as an opportunity. Not just one, but many! Why? Because change helps us to make progress. It drives us on, helps us to improve. Above all, it better prepares us for the challenges of the future. The winds of change can already be felt at Schüco. Renovation, newbuild, extension. A completely new Schüco is being created on our campus in Bielefeld. Not just on the outside, but on the inside too.

"I can't wait to welcome you, our customers, guests and employees to our campus in Bielefeld! We have invested a lot in the Bielefeld site in recent years and have not been deterred by the social and geopolitical challenges we are facing. On the contrary, we have carried out extensive research into new ways of working, created cutting-edge architecture and demonstrated how Schüco products can be used in renovation and sustainable building projects. We could not be any happier with the results. While each building has a different focus, they all share one thing in common: people are at the heart of what we do. Why? To ensure that the best product solutions, best work results and new innovations can be created – for our customers and employees. To ensure that we #moveforwards together."

Andreas Engelhardt, Managing Partner, CEO

More than a motto. Our philosophy is #moveforwards together

#moveforwards has been the key phrase at Schüco in the past – and it still is today. It stands for the things we have set out to do and the things that make us who we are: thinking ahead, carrying on, making progress. In our opinion, there are no exceptions to this. We seize new opportunities, challenge long-held ideas and offer fresh perspectives. We do so with our buildings, which enable us to demonstrate how a lasting change can be effected in the construction industry. But our approach also plays a part: we are constantly developing our partnerships so that we can explore new horizons together and try out new ways of working to achieve the best results by far. To ensure that we #moveforwards together.

Find out what we have achieved so far, what our new buildings look like and what awaits you at the Schüco Campus here!

Schueco_One_04 — Credits: Stefan Brückner

Schüco One

A fusion of tradition and modernity

We are adding a newbuild to our company headquarters – a striking building on Herforder Straße, designed by the renowned Copenhagen-based architectural practice 3XN. The newbuild is connected to our former headquarters, which is also slated to be completely renovated. Together, our new Schüco One company headquarters will be created.

With its open and dynamically designed floor levels, Schüco One acts as a kind of host that creates places where people can meet, and where communication and interaction are encouraged. As a result, employees and visitors can collaborate in lots of different ways. This is also reflected in the architecture of Schüco One.

It is more than just a building. It stands for the people who work here.

The Concept

Die neue Unternehmenszentrale Schüco One — Credits: 3XN Architects

The Concept

A gateway to the Schüco world

In future, the new Schüco One building will create a direct link to the former headquarters via a "glass bridge". The way the two buildings interact with one another creates a gateway to the Schüco world: Schücostraße here forms an axis that connects the company headquarters with the Logistics Centre, along with the Schüco Welcome Forum and the car park.

Architecturally speaking, the new building also blends in with the Schüco Campus as its design mirrors the heights and vanishing lines of the surrounding buildings.

The atrium – The central backbone of the building

An atrium connects all seven floors of the new Schüco One building and is flooded with light by a glass roof. The floor levels are dynamically stacked on top of each other, slightly protruding or recessed in certain areas. The way the various elements interact with one another creates a continuous organic flow throughout the space with surprising lines of sight through the entire building.

A particularly striking feature in the atrium is the wide staircase to the first floor, which serves as a place where people can meet and communicate with one another.

New ways of working

New ways of working

New spaces for greater individuality

The new Schüco One building gives our colleagues the opportunity to work in ways which best suit them. They have the freedom to work in different ways: a freely accessible ground floor with an open reception, flexible conference rooms for seminars and meetings, as well as separate areas along the outer façade where people can work without being disturbed or make phone calls.

The aim of the architects is to create spaces in all areas of the building which encourage people to communicate and exchange knowledge. There are therefore deliberately no corridors in the building: colleagues move in a loop around the central atrium, creating a continuous flow without any dead ends.

Want to work here? Then check out our jobs board.

Our Schüco products in use

A technological masterpiece

The architecturally sophisticated new Schüco One building is being constructed using Schüco system solutions. Here we are highlighting the technical and aesthetic possibilities of modern façade technology. 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.

green_facade (1) — Credits: Stefan Brückner

Green façade

In the entrance area on the ground floor, a section of green façade separates Schüco One from the existing building. It 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.

The transparent plinth on the ground floor consists of various Schüco façade systems. The FWS 50 mullion/transom façade with the highest thermal insulation properties was used in the curved areas as well as in front of the rooms on the east side, while the FWS 35 PD Panorama Design façade was used on the flat areas next to the main entrance.

A minimalist look combined with perfect sun shading properties

The glass roof of the atrium can be individually darkened thanks to the switchable, electrochromic glass, ensuring a pleasant temperature and glare protection inside the building all year round – without impeding the view outside. This further improves energy efficiency and user comfort – for sustainable and sophisticated architecture.

The electrically-operated and system-integrated Schüco Integralmaster glare protection ensures that the workspaces remain free from glare in accordance with workplace guidelines. The external Schüco CSB sun shading on rollers ensures that the interior is provided with shade from the first to the sixth floor as well as on parts 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.

Credits: Stefan Brückner

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Credits: Stefan Brückner

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Outstandingly sustainable

Sustainability x3!

Sustainable building is at the core of our brand. That's why we have set the highest standards for our new building: the three LEED, BREEAM and DGNB labels according to which Schüco One has been certified are compelling proof of sustainable planning, high-quality aesthetics, energy-efficient operation and a modern work environment. As a result, this building is probably the first project in the world to receive not just one, but three of the most renowned certifications for sustainable construction.

Following the commissioning of the building, the individual conformity assessment is now being carried out by the three certification companies. In addition, 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. What's more, the entire façade system is Cradle to Cradle-certified (C2C). Almost all of the installed products have been awarded the "Silver" certification level.

More Information: Sustainability at Schüco.

Facts and figures

Floor area: 1100 m2

Overall size: 7200 m²

Height: 29.80 m

Levels: 7

Work stations: 225

Architectural practice: 3XN

Schüco Partners: Feldhaus Fenster + Fassaden GmbH & Co. KG, Riedel & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG, Ventker Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG, Knaup Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG, Venuro AG

Images

The construction phase:

Credits: Frank Peterschröder

The headquarter from the outside:

Credits: Stefan Brückner

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Credits: Stefan Brückner

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Credits: Stefan Brückner

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The headquarter from the inside:

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Credits: Frank Peterschröder

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Schüco Welcome Forum

Our guests are at the heart of it

The Welcome Forum will be an integral part of the newbuild and renovation project at the Schüco Campus in Bielefeld. Expanding the current Showroom, the Welcome Forum will serve as a first point of contact and central meeting place for guests, offering them a very special visitor experience. Embodying the welcoming culture at the heart of Schüco, the Welcome Forum will set new standards in how we present our products and take care of our guests. It will also bring together those who belong together: architects, fabricators, private clients, investors, and Schüco.

Building work in progress: Completion of the Welcome Forum is scheduled for 2022. In the meantime, visit us at one of our other Schüco showrooms.

The concept

Much more than a showroom

The development of the Welcome Forum from the original showroom is reflected not only in the extension of the spaces, but also in the concept of a holistic visitor experience. In future, visitors to the Bielefeld Campus will not only see the newest innovations in our technology and services, they will also have the opportunity to learn about our impressive Schüco machinery in the separate Fabrication Showroom. Accompanying information about the company's history and the Schüco brand will give guests a comprehensive brand experience, rounded off with a trip to one of our adjacent cafés where they are invited to stay a while.

Focusing on the guests

The design drawn up by architectural practice one fine day is fully oriented towards the needs of the guest. By creating harmony between the interior and exterior areas, the Welcome Forum not only creates a welcoming atmosphere, but also deliberately combines the different spaces together – for a holistic visitor experience. A central foyer connects all the areas of the Welcome Forum and offers visitors a 360° view of the entire Schüco world. Large window façades and circular toplights open up the building and allow the targeted penetration of natural light in many areas. The semi-organic style of the design is underlined in the interior by curving staircases and rounded counters, and also extends to the exterior.

Visitor experience

A unique and exciting visitor experience

It is not just the unique architecture and the displayed products that will contribute to the success of the Welcome Forum; the personal experience of every single guest will too. As this is particularly important to Schüco, a sophisticated plan for the visitor experience is already being developed alongside the construction work. Every visit will be a personalised experience which will leave guests with a lasting positive impression and will allow them to get to know the Schüco brand on many different levels. We are carefully considering every step to make visits a success and to ensure that guests are happy before, during, and after their visit to Schüco.

Facts and figures

Floor space: 4650 m²

Levels: 2

Architectural practice: one fine day

Completion: Summer 2022

Images

Credits: Frank Peterschröder

Schüco Corporate Services

Renovation over newbuilds

Schüco Corporate Services is a modern office space on the Campus that has been sustainably renovated in line with the 'New Work' principles. From the envelope through to the new interior, a holistic approach was taken to the complete refurbishment. As the fabric of the building was in excellent condition, renovation was the clear way forward from the start. It was therefore possible to complete work on the building significantly faster and more cost-effectively than if it had been a newbuild.

Creating a healthy work environment was one of the key requirements for the renovation of the building. The 500 m² roof area is now alive with greenery and encourages insect diversity while simultaneously minimising noise and pollution, thereby improving the microclimate both inside and outside. Due to its particularly energy-efficient properties, the building is subsidised by the German Credit Institute for Reconstruction (KfW). The Ministry for the Environment, Conservation, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is also subsidising the project.

Our Schüco products in use

Schüco Corporate Services — Credits: Frank Peterschröder

Our Schüco products in use

Alongside energy efficiency, the seamless integration of form and function is nowadays a fundamental requirement when creating modern office buildings. And the Schüco Corporate Services building demonstrates that compromises don't have to be made in any of these areas when carrying out a renovation.

The AF UDC 80 unitised façade gives the building a modern and timeless aesthetic. The AB ZDS textile sun shading which is integrated into the façade can be manually lowered when needed, enabling individual offices to be shaded and ensuring a comfortable room temperature. And what makes this sun shading so special is that it is integrated seamlessly in the façade, so that it cannot be seen from outside when retracted.

Minimal face widths on the window system AWS 75 PD.SI also allow light to flood into the offices. The system combines maximum transparency with excellent insulation properties, and is therefore the basis for healthy light levels in the office and contributes towards making the building energy-efficient.

Recycling

Sustainable renovation at the Schüco Campus

In 2020, the building's old aluminium façade was dismantled as part of a comprehensive renovation project. The project served as a reference building for a study by the EA (European Aluminium) to confirm the high recycling rates of aluminium removed from buildings that are being dismantled. In total, the building's outer envelope contained more than 28 tonnes of aluminium. Around 98% of the material was collected when the building was dismantled and was then fed back into the closed-loop recycling process, so that it can be used in future to create new aluminium products of the same quality.

Credits: Frank Peterschröder

Facts and figures

Floor area: 4654 m²

Height: 23 m

Levels: 7

Work stations: 160

Architectural practice: tr Architekten Tilicke + Rössing

Schüco Partner: Anders Metallbau GmbH

Completion: August 2021

Images

Credits: Frank Peterschröder

Schüco Digital Hub One

From production hall to new working environment

A former production hall has undergone a huge transformation to become Digital Hub One, a modern, sustainably-renovated office building in line with the 'New Work' principles. What makes it special is that, on the inside, the building's former life as a production facility can still be seen in the finer details. The principle of 'making old from new' applies to the function of the building, the interior design, the installation of new products and the reuse of the old windows and doors, which have been fed into the A/U/F recycling system. The highest standards in terms of sustainability were set for the building, with both the window units and the mullion/transom façade of the stairwells being Cradle to Cradle certified.

The concept

Industrial charm retained

Even after the conversion, the aim was to keep as much of the history of the old building as possible. With the new design, its identity as a former industrial production hall has been highlighted. Accordingly, selected elements were retained or adapted on the inside, continuing its 'engineering' look and feel, with exposed fixtures and surface-mounted cabling with tubes and clamps made from steel.

The old industrial flooring was refurbished, albeit the original floor markings were kept. Their yellow colour is reflected in matching design accents on the walls. Apart from this, the colour palette of Digital Hub One is dominated by muted colours from neutral to dark grey in combination with a great deal of black.

Der alte Industrieboden wurde aufgearbeitet, die Bodenmarkierungen dabei bewahrt. Sie werden in passenden gelben Akzenten an den Wänden aufgegriffen. Ansonsten bestimmen gedeckte Farben von neutral bis dunkelgrau in Kombination mit viel Schwarz die Farbwelt des Digital Hub One.

Recycled and certified sustainable materials were used both inside and outside, including original vintage lights and carpets made from recycled plastic bottles. The carpets are not fixed to the floor, meaning they can be removed at a later date without leaving behind any trace. The wall cladding in the office and meeting spaces is made from fast-growing, renewable maritime pine panels and the purpose-built furniture is also certified as sustainable.

Sustainability with Schüco products

The lifecycle at a glance: Cradle to Cradle

From building to raw material stockpile of the future. Even when the new windows and doors were installed, Schüco had its sights set firmly on tomorrow – and the recyclability of the building at the end of its lifecycle. Recyclable Schüco aluminium products were therefore used, which can be kept in a continuous recycling loop in accordance with the Cradle to Cradle principle. On the ground floor, the AWS 75.SI+ window system was installed, which is Cradle to Cradle Silver certified. Both stairwells were fitted with the FWS 35 PD.HI mullion/transom construction, a Panorama Design façade which also holds the Cradle to Cradle Silver certificate.

In the office areas on the first and second floors, the Cradle to Cradle Bronze certified FWS 60 CV.HI ribbon window system was used. The system enables maximum transparency due to the seamless integration of vent and load-bearing structure. Fixed lights and opening units are indistinguishable from the outside. On the flush-fitted interior side, the window vents are only betrayed by a narrow shadow gap and the window handle.

During the complete refurbishment of the building, high standards were set in terms of sustainability – including when it came to the recycling and processing of old building materials. The old windows and doors were therefore fed into the A/U/F recycling system. By separating out the materials, then shredding and melting the valuable aluminium, it was ensured that new aluminium profiles will be made from the old material.

New ways of working

The changes on the inside are more than just construction measures. The new architecture in Digital Hub One has created a completely new working culture, a different way of working together. 159 fixed and many temporary workstations have been created on the ground floor and on the two full upper levels. The overall area of the building has been divided into zones in order to meet various different working requirements. Both dynamic teamwork and quiet, concentrated work are equally possible. To achieve this, open working spaces alternate with glazed but closed meeting areas, telephone booths and whiteboard nooks.

Comfortable lounge and kitchen areas that are also suitable for working in are an important feature of the new spatial concept – the communicative, homely atmosphere aims to encourage networking between colleagues. The new office concept is a modern, open working environment that allows people to work faster, more flexibly and more creatively with one another.

Facts and figures

Office space: 4500 m²

Architect: Nicole Becker

Schüco Partner: Main contractor GOLDBECK

Conversion: 2017 - 2019

Images

Credits: Frank Peterschröder

Schüco Parkhaus FACID — Credits: Christian Eblenkamp

Schüco Car Park

Central parking at the Schüco Campus

There are around 1800 employees working at our Bielefeld site, so sufficient parking spaces for them in addition to public transport connections is essential. With its central location on the campus, the new car park centralises parking so that all employees have short walks to their offices. The small area taken up by the car park leaves space for grass, trees and plants to grow.

What is special about the parking spaces is that they are 2.50 to 2.70 metres wide, making them significantly wider and more convenient than the standard size of 2.10 metres. Cars with a height of up to 2.10 metres can access the car park.

Our Schüco products in use

Our car park is not just functional, it is also a visual highlight thanks to its FACID façade. The front of the car park has a curved, wave-like design, while the other sides are less three-dimensional and in some parts are covered completely flat. This allows us to show the different application options for FACID.

Besides the unique three-dimensional structure of the car park, its impressive lighting concept also stands out. By day, the transparent material covering the building allows the levels to be flooded with natural light, while a lighting system specially tailored to the shape of the façade illuminates its 3D structure at night and forms creative light effects.

A total of 2949 square metres of textile façade cover the 18 metre-high car park. A substructure made of steel and aluminium forms the load-bearing frame, while a patented clamping system using flexholder technology ensures that the fabric is pulled tightly into all of the corners without any creases. The Teflon-coated, inflammable glass fibre fabric is tensioned in the special aluminium profiles.

Facts and figures

Floor area: 2665 m²

Overall size: 21,319 m²

Height: 18 m

Levels: 8

Parking spaces: 744 including 12 with electric charging points

Completion: 2019

Construction time: 1 year

Architectural practice: SCHLATTMEIER ARCHITEKTE

Images

Credits: Christian Eblenkamp

Working at Schüco

With our claim to be the technology and service leader, we set ourselves ambitious goals. We can only achieve these goals with the best team. Because behind every product are the good ideas of our employees.

Mehr über Schüco als Arbeitgeber

Unternehmenswerte

Outstanding Buildings are our passion. We embody outstanding quality and first-class service, and set digital trends. Our corporate values, which we embody every single day, show what we stand for.

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Sustainability at Schüco

As a company in the building industry, we are taking responsibility for the long term and using our products and services to make an active contribution to a more sustainable world.

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