Innovation and Business Centre, Eschweiler

Situated at the heart of the Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen metropolitan regions, the town of Eschweiler is using the structural change brought about by the phase-out of lignite as an opportunity for a sustainable reorientation.
Over the next few years, a pioneering innovation and business centre is to be built on the site of a former abattoir, which covers an area of around 12,000 m². The site is designed to be a modern hub for technology transfer and offers the necessary infrastructure for collaborative working and new business sectors. Start-ups and companies in the recycling and circular economy sectors, in particular, are set to find the ideal environment here to drive forward forward-looking innovations.

The architectural centrepiece and historical focal point of the development is an existing building dating back around a century, which harmoniously links the newly constructed workshops. With the clear aim of achieving DGNB Gold certification, the project sets a high standard for sustainable construction in the region.

Strategic planning using the DGNB Pre-Check

MorgenGrün was involved in this ambitious project from the early stages in order to lay the groundwork for the intended certification. Based on a detailed analysis of the planning status, the quality of the site and the planning processes to date, we were able to determine at an early stage the expected level of compliance with the DGNB criteria.

A key factor in our success was the joint on-site workshop, during which we discussed and identified the planning objectives and optimisation measures in depth with the project stakeholders. The particular complexity lay in the allocation of the DGNB usage profiles, as well as the parallel use of different system versions for the new buildings and the refurbishment project. Despite these challenges, the results of our pre-check enabled us to provide clear planning guidelines within a very short space of time, laying an important foundation and providing certainty for the rest of the planning process, whilst paving the way for Gold certification.

Guiding principle: The principle of circular construction

The planning is consistently guided by the principle of circular construction:

• Reused materials: The structural framework and façade incorporate reused materials such as bricks, concrete beams and sheet metal, which are sourced from the demolition of buildings in the region.
• Conservation of resources: The use of concrete is minimised as far as possible. Instead of large-scale foundations, a point-load foundation concept is employed, in which recycled concrete is used where necessary. The load-bearing structure of the new buildings is planned to be made primarily of timber.
• Recyclability: Load-bearing and non-load-bearing components are preferably manufactured from renewable raw materials or from raw materials that can be separated by type and recycled.

The simultaneous demolition of various buildings in the immediate vicinity creates valuable synergies for the reuse of building components.

Climate-neutral energy supply through the use of waste heat

The energy concept is based on an innovative integration of local resources. Heating and cooling are supplied via a central energy plant in the Mobility Hub:

• Wastewater heat: Water-to-water heat pumps are used to harness the waste heat from a nearby sewer to provide climate-neutral heating.
• Low-temperature network: Heat is supplied highly efficiently at a flow temperature of 
  45 °C.
• Passive cooling: In summer, the system enables the buildings to be cooled partly passively.
• On-site electricity generation: Large-scale PV systems on the roofs help to supply the site with renewable electricity.

In addition to functional areas such as offices, workshops and laboratories, a new cafeteria and the adjoining terrace will create a high-quality open and green space for users and passers-by. This will make the Innovation Centre in Eschweiler a pioneering example of best practice.

Images: © asp Architekten GmbH, Berlin