The final foundation stone was laid on EUREF-Campus on August 24, 2021. The interior of the Gasometer is the final construction project. The redesign of the Gasometer borrows from the historical image of the telescopic vessel of the low-pressure gas tank ascending and descending inside the scaffolding. The gray, historic steel scaffolding acts – with a respect distance of one meter – as a frame for the round new building. The listed steel scaffolding will be preserved in its splendor and remain visible. At the same time as the building is being erected, the steel scaffolding is being restored to its original condition in accordance with the preservation order. This is being done using sandblasting technology.
The green steel shell, i.e. the lower part of the gasometer, will once again become the conference area, i.e. the forum of the EUREF-Campus. From a height of 16 meters upward, an office building with around 28,000 square meters of space will be built in the gasometer. The predominantly glass facade will ensure a high degree of transparency in the building. On the upper floors, rooms for presentations and events will be created behind the steel and glass facade. A roof terrace will be built on the top floor of the new building, which will be open to the public – the view over Berlin from a height of around 66 meters is included. The project will cost more than 200 million euros. It is scheduled for completion in 2024. Deutsche Bahn will move into the building with 2,000 employees. 800 new jobs will be created. From here, DB will drive forward the digitization of rail.
When EUREF AG took over this site in 2008, there were many in Berlin politics who did not believe in the success of this visionary project. I am glad that together we seized the opportunity that was offered to our city here. Not only in terms of the role of the EUREF campus as an innovation location, but also in terms of the intelligent conversion and addition to existing architectural monuments, as is now once again visible at the Gasometer.
By continuing to use the gasometer as a commercial site, no new area in our district will have to be sealed and no trees will have to be felled. The jobs will also be created on an existing commercial site – in a city where commercial space is notoriously scarce.
I am pleased that the landmark character of the Gasometer will not only be preserved for our district, but literally filled with new life. This shows how a wise approach to architectural monuments can also advance the city economically.
With the expansion of the Gasometer, the EUREF-Campus will once again live up to its role as a future location. The approximately 2,000 new Deutsche Bahn jobs that will be created here will further advance the transportation turnaround in terms of climate protection and thus integrate synergistically with the projects and companies that have been working here for years with very different approaches on the mobility of tomorrow. This innovative diversity is what makes the EUREF-Campus so attractive, and it is no coincidence that it has now become a Berlin export product and that we will soon be opening a second reallab in Düsseldorf.
Construction progress: The Schöneberg Gasometer on the EUREF-Campus is steadily taking shape.
Gasometer is being rebuilt: office building as interior
Inofficial landmark of Berlin-Schöneberg: EUREF-Campus operator lays foundation stone for old gasometer
Famous steel dome from gasometer : “Jauch dome” comes from Berlin to Düsseldorf
HISTORIC MONUMENT, NEW LIFE
By continuing to use the gasometer as a commercial property, no new area in Berlin has to be sealed, no trees have to be removed. Jobs will be created on existing premises – in a city where commercial space is scarce. In this way a historical monument is preserved and at the same time filled with new life.
The planned building will be constructed as KfW-Effizienzhaus 55. This will implement the standard of a lowest-energy building, which is even significantly lower than the current legal requirements for energy consumption according to the German Building Energy Act (GEG). In addition to the highly insulating building shell, the extremely efficient central heating and cooling system, which incorporates renewable energies and combined heat and power generation, is used to generate primary energy.
The energy supply is – as in the other new buildings on the EUREF-Campus – smart. This means that light only burns in the rooms when people are present. In the evening and night hours, the gasometer will also be darkened by blinds.
FAQ – Expansion of the Gasometer
Will the listed gasometer be preserved?
The listed gasometer will of course be preserved in its original form. It will be repaired in close cooperation with the responsible monument protection authorities and under scientific supervision. The steel structure will be restored to its original appearance following the recommendation of a state-approved test engineer for steel construction. The design of the building, which is reminiscent of the telescopic container moving up and down, takes up the historical shape of the gasometer. With a long-term economic use, we can ensure the continued existence of the monument in the future.
How high will the gasometer be extended?
It was the wish of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district to build less on the EUREF-Campus. At the same time, it was a common goal to dispense with tunnelling under the railroad embankment in order to create space for the expansion of an elementary school and room for further education and culture in the area provided for this purpose. In the course of these negotiations, a compromise was reached to raise the building in the gasometer by one ring while maintaining a maximum of 135,000 m² of development on the entire area of the EUREF-Campus.
Our plan is now to develop a conference center within the Gasometer and a new office building up to and including the penultimate ring. The new building will be erected within the steel framework and will maintain a respectable distance of one meter to it. There is no connection between the new building and the steel framework. The upper ring remains free!
How will the renovation of the gasometer be carried out?
The steel structure will be restored to its original, historic appearance and refurbished in a manner appropriate to the monument. Simultaneously with the construction of the new building inside, the steel structure is being refurbished in sections using sandblasting techniques.
What happens to the base of the gasometer?
The historic steel shell of the Gasometer, with a height of around 16 m, allows only a few openings while preserving the monument protection. A conference center will therefore once again be built in this volume – the forum of the EUREF-Campus, so to speak.
Will the 78 m high gasometer be accessible to the public?
A sky lounge with a terrace will be built on the top floor of the new building, which will be open to the public. In the public areas and behind the impressive steel and glass façade, the view over Berlin from a height of around 66 m is included.
Will Torgauer Straße be improved?
EUREF AG will be responsible for the structural restoration of Torgauer Straße. The expansion will improve accessibility and thus also lead to a reduction in motorized individual traffic. Unfortunately, the approval of the district authority to start the work is still pending.
What energetic aspects will be taken into account when constructing the building?
The planned building will be constructed as KfW-Efficiency House 55. The standard of a low-energy building will thus be implemented, which will even be significantly below the current legal requirements for energy consumption according to the German Building Energy Act (GEG).
In addition to the highly insulating building envelope, the extremely efficient central heating and cooling system, which is based on renewable energies and combined heat and power generation, is used to generate primary energy.
Is barrier-free access to the building possible?
A disabled restroom will be installed in each of the entrance areas and all elevators will be equipped with barrier-free access. The entrances to the rental units and the garage floor are step-less and have a passage width of at least 0,90 m.
Why is the building not erected outside the steel framework?
The continued use of the industrial monument for economic purposes will secure its existence in the long term. And from an ecological point of view, the subsequent use of industrial areas also makes sense. This avoids the sealing of new areas. Working places are thus created on an existing industrial site – in a city where industrial space is scarce.
Press Inquiries Contact
Karin Teichmann
EUREF AG
karin.teichmann@euref.de
Tel. + 49 30 264 767 15
