Under the project name “DB Brick”, the Schmidtploecker architectural firm developed a building concept for the investor, Aurelis Real Estate, featuring an inner courtyard, gastronomic spaces and various office layouts for rental. In 2017, when the building was leased to Deutsche Bahn AG (DB), the “DB Tower” was added on the neighbouring parcel of land. In-depth consultations followed with DB to integrate 3,000 workstations requiring 52,000 m2 of space into the new building complex. A competition was held in 2017 to find a suitable facade; the winner, designed by Aldinger Architekten in Stuttgart, was incorporated into the planning process by Schmidtploecker to ensure a harmonious look overall.

DB Tower and DB Brick house DB’s new passenger services offices
The DB Tower has 14 floors of offices rising above a base level and is crowned by a three-storey technology level. The block on the western side connects with the DB Tower to form an inner courtyard and comprises five full storeys and a penthouse level. The three-storey underground car park has 374 parking spaces.
The office spaces in the DB Tower are arranged in a grid of 1.35 and 1.25 metres, allowing workspaces to be designed flexibly by combining individual, group and open-plan offices. The floor plans were developed using a modern multi-space concept with a focus on excellent interior quality for employees.

The architects designed the tower’s brick facade with uniform single windows and pillars. Each individual window element is set apart with a graduated brick relief comprising a reveal, lintel and windowsill. The building’s exterior is a rear-ventilated curtain-wall facade with a modular structure. The prefabricated components for the brickwork were constructed using brick slip cladding and installed on site.

Special approval was required for the floor-to-ceiling windows in the tower. A special agreement with the Institute for Window Technology (ift) in Rosenheim convinced the building inspection authorities to authorise the technical safety solution with opening limiters.

Flexible offices with excellent use of daylight
The proportion of glass in the facades was carefully assessed during planning to optimise the amount of daylight. Daylight-dependant light control and highly light-proof LED systems have reduced the energy used for lighting to 35–40 percent. Heat input has also been optimised. In both cases, this was aided by an automated sun shading solution from Warema specially developed in close collaboration with the architects.

Warema external venetian blinds with flexible controls ensure excellent light conditions in the workplace at all times, optimising daylight usage and preventing glare. The systems let in more or less sunlight as required. This ensures great visual and thermal comfort. A wind-stable version of the external venetian blinds is used in areas particularly exposed to wind. This ensures sufficient natural daylight while also controlling glare.

Warema services from planning through to operation
“As Europe’s leading manufacturer of sun shading solutions, Warema was the obvious choice. And with good reason. Even in the planning phase, we talked to Warema all the time to clarify technical details. This allowed us to develop a high-quality solution of exterior sun shading and interior glare protection with intelligent system controls. Aesthetic and functional in equal measure, it allows the architecture to take centre stage. The perfect solution for a building that will stand the test of time”, says Christian Olaf Schmidt (partner/owner – Schmidt Plöcker Architekten PartG mbB).

A maintenance contract with Warema will keep the DB Tower systems functioning perfectly by allowing potential defects to be detected and rectified at an early stage. Even in an emergency, long-term use and functionality are ensured by the manufacturer directly.

Construction details

Project: Deutsche Bahn – New office space for DB passenger services

Location: Europaallee, Frankfurt am Main

Purpose: Offices and administration

Tenant: Deutsche Bahn AG

Owner: HIH Invest Real Estate

Architecture: Schmidtploecker Architekten, Frankfurt am Main; Aldinger Architekten, Stuttgart

Size: Gross floor area 47,709.36 m²

Completed: 2020

Products:
- Warema E80A6S external venetian blinds in wind-stable and standard versions; motor control; stove-enamelled slats in DB 703; powder-coated end rails and tension cable brackets in DB 703
- Warema cassette roller blind S with cassette 40x40 mm; guide rails, end rails and cassette in colour DB 703 matte; design 42231

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