To renovate a building with perfect fit, a precise examination of the existing structure is essential. For the DEVK headquarters in the Riehl district of Cologne, we created a solid planning basis using a complete digital survey and targeted component openings, which, among other things, enables long-term and future-proof energy optimization.

Renovating existing buildings: the key to achieving climate targets

For the over 40-year-old and heavily used headquarters, our focus was on renewing the thermal building envelope and replacing the building services in order to achieve an energy and functional optimization. The result is a modern, energy-efficient office building with attractive workplaces. DEVK is aiming for the DGNB Gold Standard or even higher certification.

DEVK has commissioned ZWP Ingenieur-AG to provide comprehensive planning and consulting services, with MorgenGrün on board as a partner. Among other things, our team is designing the future energy supply, planning the building physics, conducting detailed simulations, and supporting the certification process according to the DGNB standard.

To optimize the energy concept, we determined and evaluated the needs and local potential and decided on a heat pump-based system that is most economically and ecologically efficient. The proximity to the Rhine makes it possible to use abundant groundwater as an energy source. This also allows for passive cooling via the groundwater, which significantly reduces the energy demand for cooling compared to the previous system.

DGNB Gold Standard targeted

In the field of building physics, we focused on room and building acoustics as well as thermal building physics. The comfort for the employees was the main focus here. Our team was able to significantly improve the acoustic and thermal comfort, which also led to high ratings in the DGNB certification in these areas.

Using a CFD flow simulation, we were able to determine the minimum local temperatures to be expected in the garage levels and which areas would remain frost-free permanently. Based on our results, the heating of the sprinkler system can be dispensed with—an economically and ecologically sensible step.

We are proud to have provided DEVK with a sustainable solution for its 1980s head office building— and with a manageable use of resources. For example, the heating and cooling supply will in future be largely fed from renewable energy sources.