New Heidelberg Congress Centre equipped with aquatherm red
"Welcome to the Heidelberg Congress Centre" has recently been the motto in the immediate vicinity of Heidelberg's main train station. With the opening of this event facility in 2024, Heidelberg (Germany) is establishing new benchmarks. The city aims to be a forward-thinking source of inspiration for both local and global companies and institutions. Boasting visionary architecture, spacious design, advanced technology, and gold-certified sustainability, Heidelberg is positioning itself as a leader in innovation.
The Heidelberg Congress Centre accommodates up to 3,800 participants across three levels and twelve meeting and conference rooms. Each room is equipped with state-of-the-art communication technology for hybrid event formats. Additionally, a fully equipped studio is available for recording, video production, and streaming meetings and conferences. Highlights include a large hall with 1,800 seats and an impressive LED wall measuring 13.5 metres in width and six metres in height, as well as the main foyer, spanning 2,600 square metres and reaching heights of up to 20 metres. The centre also boasts an event restaurant with three cooking islands and a circumferential counter, where up to 55 guests can be seated. The conference centre is operated by Heidelberg Congress, while Bau- und Servicegesellschaft mbH (BSG), a subsidiary of Gesellschaft für Grund- und Hausbesitz mbH (GGH) Heidelberg, constructed the building and continues to own it.
From the outside, the Heidelberg Congress Centre, with its wave-shaped façade, resembles a curtain behind which a stage is set, as described by Florian Walter, the executing architect from the Swiss architectural firm DELEGO. The use of reddish natural sandstone from the region pays homage to Heidelberg's traditional building materials. The large glass surfaces at the entrance areas enable the two main façades to shine brightly even at night.
Awarded the Gold Quality Seal
The Heidelberg Congress Centre has been awarded the Gold Quality Seal by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The conference centre generates part of its own energy via the 1,800-square-metre photovoltaic system on its roof. The ventilation systems are operated using heat recovery systems with an efficiency of up to 85 per cent. The building is also connected to the district heating network operated by Stadtwerke Heidelberg. The neighbouring cooling plant, operated by Stadtwerke Heidelberg and due to be commissioned in September 2023, ensures comfortable indoor temperatures in summer. Furthermore, the microclimate is enhanced by a green roof. The sprinkler system also impresses with its special features: a comparative life-cycle analysis involving steel and PVC pipes has shown that aquatherm blue pipes have a lower environmental impact – for example, lower greenhouse gas emissions, a lower acidification potential and a lower ozone depletion potential. The production of plastics requires less energy than the production of metals.
Sprinkler system invisible in concrete
The aquatherm red sprinkler system was invisibly embedded within the concrete of the floor ceilings. In accordance with the customer's requirements, aquatherm prefabricated all the essential strings and supply lines, significantly reducing the need for on-site welding. This streamlined approach not only saved considerable time but also reduced the manpower required for installation. Furthermore, the leak test was conducted at the aquatherm plant in Attendorn, South Westphalia, ensuring that the pipes were delivered to Heidelberg fully prepared for installation. Specifically, 18 sprinkler connections and 75 metres of pipes including the fittings were installed. According to Maik Grimm, project manager at Lauer GmbH, the executing plant manufacturer, the installation process posed challenges due to the sloping ceiling and limited assembly space between the reinforcement. However, despite these obstacles, the installation was completed smoothly without any issues.
In contrast to metal systems, the aquatherm red piping system is welded into a homogeneous, material-tight, and therefore secure unit through fusion. This process involves briefly heating the pipe and fitting with specialised tools and then effortlessly joining them together.
The installation directly in concrete is made possible by the special material of aquatherm red: the plastic polypropylene, specifically the material fusiolen® PP-R FS developed by aquatherm. It is not only flame-retardant (building material class B1), but also corrosion-resistant. For comparison, when using metal sprinkler systems, corrosion occurs as soon as the metal and the damp concrete meet. Corrosion can only be prevented with the help of special protection, which makes the laying of metal pipe systems in concrete complex and expensive.
Pictures: Christian Buck
