Bezeichnung
Identity-building structure
The Bochum University campus now has a new representative building. The new seminar building for the faculties of architecture as well as civil and environmental engineering at the university location in Bochum was built right next to the BlueBox architecture training center. On behalf of the “Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW”, Dortmund branch, we built the building with a floor area of 880 m². The planning of the building was realized by our colleagues at rpg, for the first time using the BIM method. The entire know-how was mapped in a three-dimensional interdisciplinary model, which enables individual cutting options for better understanding at any time. For example, this method could be used to illustrate tricky connection points in the area of the stairwell to the executing companies.
The striking feature of the 55 m long and 16.4 m wide new building is its open architecture and the remarkable mullion-transom facade, which extends over the full height of the building. The large glass facade of the building faces the square in front as well as the BlueBox and is intended to promote the exchange between the individual faculties. Also, the two attractively designed tree islands invite you to linger and offer to sit for mild summer days. The property is divided into a western office block and an eastern part, which houses 22 seminar rooms with sizes between 47 m² and 153 m².
The stories are accessed via a spacious atrium, in which free flights of stairs connect the floors. The entire structure of the object was built as a massive construction from reinforced concrete. The open facade surfaces in the atrium were stabilized with visible and identity-creating reinforced concrete composite columns in an X-shape. The individual elements were made on-site and after the concrete was finished, erected by a mobile crane and brought into position. Since these supports are subject to high loads, precise planning of the connecting reinforcement in the next slab was essential. Due to the high level of complexity, it was necessary to present the reinforcement positions in individual, detailed drawings to explain the processes to the executing staff.
In addition to the outstanding composite supports, the atrium is characterized by an open installation. The various soundproofing elements are particularly eye-catching here. Due to the many hard surfaces, various simulations had to be carried out to determine the number and position of the elements. As a result, a large part of the ceiling areas had to be equipped with additional elements. However, the western part of the building was built with a flat ceiling and a clear column grid. Depending on the requirements, non-load-bearing elements were created from reinforced concrete, masonry or drywall. In addition to the lavish glass surfaces, a curtain sheet metal facade and window strips in the west area were used as the facade.
The entire project followed a very tight schedule. Each week, we finished the concreting of one floor. The seminar building was completed on schedule in August 2019, so that it can be officially put into operation in the summer semester 2020.
