German Industrial Building Prize for sustainable building in industrial and commercial construction

The Industrial Building Prize is all about combining architectural design expertise with ecological, economic and social aspects as key factors. Open to entries for the first time in 2018, it has been won by Hettich production facility B7 in Kirchlengern. The prize acknowledges architects and developers for their innovations in the field of sustainable building construction.

In terms of production logistics, energy efficiency as well as building typology, production facility B7 is making a contribution to responsible industrial construction. With its 24,500 square metres of gross floor area and enclosed space of 158,000 cubic metres, the project's approaches to sustainability include: the virtually self supporting floor plan in primary energy optimised timber construction with its sustainable workplace qualities, ability to fall below the requirements of Germany's Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) by more than 46 per cent, reduced impervious surface from the industrial building's two storey design and use of waste heat from production covering up to 60 per cent of the energy needed for heating and hot water. A photovoltaic installation covering an area of 1,750 square metres and delivering a 285 kilowatt peak provides 25 per cent of the total energy requirement.

The construction comprises the main building, the incoming/outgoing goods departments as well as the components warehouse as central logistics unit. Production and processing have been structured to take place over two storeys. Logistically, activities are linked via automatic conveyor systems, with semi finished and finished product intermediately stored in the logistics warehouse. Organisation over two levels produces extremely effective production processes.

Projects entering the Industrial Building Prize for the Sustainable Construction of Industrial and Commercial Buildings must leave no doubt on the part of the adjudicating panel in terms of design, energy efficiency and sustainability. In future, the prize will be awarded every two years at the Baufachtage West building symposium.