Federal Institute for Materials Testing

A laboratory and research facility is being constructed for the Federal Institute for Materials Research & Testing (BAM) on a plot of land measuring nearly 21,000 m2 in size. Werner Sobek has been entrusted with the BNB certification process for the project.

The plan for the initial phase of construction is to build the facility’s laboratories, office spaces, workshops and experiment and testing halls. A reception area, several meeting rooms and various operational services facilities, including a depot, are also earmarked for development.

Innovative solutions for resource-efficient construction

A key project objective is to build the new facility in a particularly economical, resource-efficient way. This is made significantly more challenging, however, by the urban density local to the construction site and the fact that the project is being undertaken on behalf of the German Federal Government, which bears a special responsibility to uphold standards of architectural culture and is committed to sustainability in all its buildings and structures. Innovative solutions are required at the planning and execution phases to address these constraints.

In terms of sustainability, the goal is to achieve “Silver” certificates for the development’s laboratory buildings and outdoor facilities in accordance with the Assessment System for Sustainable Building (BNB). To ensure the successful delivery of the project overall, the multi-stakeholder project team are employing Building Information Modelling (BIM) to help them consider the entire lifecycle of the building, including its longer-term operational future.