IBA editorial team In June 2020, Heidelberg Materials moved into its new headquarters, which was built on the site of the company’s previously demolished headquarters in Heidelberg. The new building sets new standards in the areas of architecture, functionality, and sustainability and offers space for up to 1,000 employees. The new building, which was designed by the Frankfurt-based architecture firm AS+P Albert Speer + Partner, combines the use of concrete with innovative aesthetics and reflects the company’s aim to create a building that is not only functional and employee-friendly but also future-oriented. The company headquarters was awarded the Platinum certificate of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) in recognition of its especially resource-conserving and climate-friendly design.
The path toward the new building
The decision to construct a new headquarters was made in 2015 after Heidelberg Materials had acquired a large company in Italy and the number of its employees had increased significantly. The existing facilities, which dated back to 1963, had long been insufficient for the much larger team. The company’s employees were distributed among various buildings in different locations, and that made communication more difficult and impaired the sense of togetherness. An in-house sounding board consisting of employees from a variety of departments supported the planning process early on and was included in every phase of the implementation—specifically, the spatial concept, colour design, equipment, and work situations, to name just a few.
The architectural concept and spatial design
The company commissioned the architecture firm AS+P Albert Speer + Partner to plan the construction project and decided to erect a new building on the existing site. The company’s own in-house project team, led by Tobias Walter from the Heidelberg-based architecture firm W+ Architektur- und Ingenieurgesellschaft and Steffen Benz, the head of Facility Management at Heidelberg Materials, supported all of the construction work, which began in 2017 and was completed in 2020. The new headquarters consists of three cubical building volumes of differing heights that are connected with one another by thoroughfares. Each building volume has a landscaped courtyard. The building is characterized by open, light-flooded architecture and provides an impressive level of spatial quality and optimal acoustics. The architectural concrete tree supports in the foyer are definitely a highlight. But it’s not only through its visual aspects that the building marks the beginning of a new era. The headquarters building is completely oriented toward sustainability, and it shows what is possible today through the use of concrete in the areas of technology and aesthetics. The curving concrete façade is not only an eyecatcher but also makes a functional contribution to environmental protection. Through the use of photocatalytic cement containing titanium dioxide, nitrogen oxides are filtered out of the ambient air and decomposed by the incident light. Moreover, thanks to this reaction the concrete in the façade has a self-cleaning effect that reduces the cost of maintenance over the long term.
The building itself offers a mix of various spatial concepts that range from generously proportioned single and double offices to open spaces and flexible communication zones. The open spaces have been specially designed for departments that require dynamic project work. Traditional office areas are available for concentrated work, and additional facilities such as fitness rooms, parent-child rooms, and modern kitchenettes promote the employees’ sense of well-being. In addition, the ground floor has a large conference zone with many meeting rooms and the Casino (canteen) with a canteen kitchen. A pleasant cafeteria rounds out the facilities.
A new work culture
The state-of-the-art headquarters of Heidelberg Materials reflect an open and agile work culture that is characterized by flexibility and team spirit. The design process for the office and communal areas was substantially influenced by the employees’ wishes. In particular, the café and the communication zones promote spontaneous meetings and exchanges between the departments. The new spirit of openness is greatly appreciated by the employees, even though some of them initially needed to adjust to this freedom. “This is a cultural change that we are deliberately promoting and supporting,” explains Elke Schönig, the company’s press officer for Germany and Senior Communication Manager.
What are the cornerstones of Heidelberg Materials‘ work culture? Agility, openness, innovation, transparency, quality, and 100 percent enjoyment of our work. Elke Schönig, press officer for Germany, Heidelberg Materials
Sustainability is a core aspect
Sustainability is a central principle for Heidelberg Materials, and it is reflected in the building’s construction as well as its use of space. The building’s design is based on state-of-the-art sustainable technologies. Extensive roof plantings and solar panels on an area of 1,000 square meters support the concept and promote urban air quality as well as energy efficiency. The company uses a combination of concrete core activation and geothermal energy for year-round temperature regulation. A specially drilled well supplies the building with groundwater from the Neckar River, which is used in the heating and cooling circuit. This combination considerably reduces the need for conventional energy sources and ensures an environmentally friendly basic energy supply. Intelligent control systems regulate the interplay between heating, cooling, ventilation, and shading in real time, thus providing a high level of energy efficiency.
Sustainable mobility is also promoted for the employees. In addition to 48 charging stations for electric vehicles, 190 canopied bicycle stands are available, about half of them equipped with charging stations for e‑bikes. The three interconnected building volumes, all with landscaped courtyards, improve the microclimate and are open to air currents from the Neckar River into the Rhine Valley. At the same time, the plantings improve the quality of time spent in the courtyards and help to regulate the environmental balance of the surrounding area.
Employer branding and the connection with the city of Heidelberg
The new headquarters building emphasizes the company’s aspiration to being an attractive employer. Visitors are welcomed by a modern showroom that enables them to experience the diversity of the construction materials as well as sustainable building concepts. Moreover, Heidelberg Materials regards itself as an active participant in the urban life of Heidelberg. The building is used regularly for cultural events, concerts, and external events—and that’s an indication of the company’s commitment to the city and to its own name.
In conclusion, the headquarters of Heidelberg Materials is more than just a place of work. It stands for a new kind of working in which flexibility, openness, and sustainability are in the foreground. Through the connections between innovative worlds of work, a sustainable building concept, and the inclusion of the employees, a place has been created that represents the company not only inwardly but also outwardly—as a state-of-the-art employer that is tackling the challenges of the future and actively taking on responsibility.
