Press releases, 2004-10-04

Infraserv Höchst construction projects: From the FIZ to the “ship on stilts”

What do the chief minister of the federal state of Hesse, the mayoress of Frankfurt, the pharmaceuticals company Sanofi-Aventis and the company BKK Hoechst have in common? Positive experiences with major projects that were implemented with the help of Infraserv Höchst. A few months ago state and local politicians attended the opening of the Frankfurter Innovationszentrum Biotechnologie (FIZ) (Frankfurt Innovation Center for Biotechnology), which was designed and constructed by Infraserv Höchst. The experience Infraserv had gained at the Höchst Industrial Park while constructing the multipurpose laboratory building, which is chiefly utilized by Sanofi-Aventis, flowed into planning the research building at Niederurseler Hang. As well as the “OnBoard” travel service and a subsidiary of Deutsche Post AG, BKK Hoechst is one of the tenants of the new office and functional building B 852, which was occupied at the beginning of the year.

B 852: efficiency and sophistication

B 852 is the official designation for the new building at the eastern periphery of the Industrial Park; all of the 800 buildings of the industrial complex, which covers 4.6 square kilometers, have alphanumeric designation codes. However, the building is better known as the “ship on stilts”. This nickname is based on the fact that the new building, which cost EUR 12.5 million to construct, resembles a ship and rests on 63 concrete piles sunk into the ground as deep as 22 meters. Despite or perhaps precisely because of the building’s unusual shape, B852 constitutes a special combination of architectural sophistication coupled with economic efficiency.
87 percent of the space available on each story can be fully used by tenants. Only comparably little space is needed for stairways, elevators and sanitary facilities at the center of the building, thus leaving plenty of room for office and communication areas. Functional and customer-friendly space was created in close cooperation with the tenants, whereby care was taken to accommodate the very different requirements of the individual users.

Flexible concept for the “neue Mitte”

The same will also apply to a construction project in the heart of the Industrial Park. The “Ensemble neue Mitte” is to be designed to suit the wishes and requirements of potential tenants who have displayed an interest in using the building. The architecturally pleasing yet flexible concept for developing the free space that was created two years ago after a 14-storey office building was demolished was designed by the renowned architect Prof. Hans Kollhoff. Apart from office space, the “Ensemble neue Mitte” will also provide laboratory and pilot plant facilities.

Multipurpose laboratory building providing 27,000 square meters of rental space

Turnkey laboratories with standard equipment are also available for immediate rental in the Industrial Park’s multipurpose laboratory building. The labs can be equipped to suit individual requirements in a very short space of time. While the majority of the 27,000 square meters of rental space has already been let, laboratory space is still available. It is also possible to fit office and laboratory space to suit individual development needs at short notice.

The multipurpose laboratory building concept guarantees optimum conditions for research and development. Strictly speaking, the complex comprises five buildings linked by a central connecting block. The various building sections accommodate room segments that are equipped with different functional modules. These room segments permit immediate modification to suit individual specifications – without conversion work that would need official approval – for example in order to fulfil the requirements of various safety levels. The concept enables an excellent space-utilization ratio, the degree and efficiency of which have scaled new heights.

In its capacity as principal and lead planner, Infraserv already kept a close eye on operating costs during the planning stage. As a result, an innovative energy concept was implemented that is based on utilizing geothermal heat and has resulted in energy consumption being cut by more than 40 percent – savings that will already make themselves pay for the users over the short term. A novel accommodation concept enables tenants to make optimum use of the space available, as a result of which both rental and incidental costs can be lowered.

FIZ: ideal conditions for young biotechnology companies

The fact that the Industrial Park operator, Infraserv, was commissioned to construct the FIZ (Frankfurter Innovationszentrum Biotechnologie – Frankfurt Innovation Center for Biotechnology) also goes to prove that the company is particularly competent in planning and constructing laboratory buildings. The joint project of the federal state of Hesse, the city of Frankfurt and Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt GmbH (Frankfurt Economic Development Company) aims at providing especially young enterprises with a suitable environment in which to implement new business ideas. A consortium consisting of Infraserv Höchst, the company SüdLeasing and the Munich-based architect’s company Henn emerged as the winner of an investor competition, in which 35 companies had taken part. The construction concept including plans of the building and laboratory technology was provided by Infraserv Höchst, the architectural blueprints by the Munich-based architect. Once work had commenced at the end of November 2002, it only took 15 months for Infraserv Höchst to hand the turnkey building over to the customer – nothing short of record construction time considering the complex building and laboratory technology involved.

The FIZ offers tenants fully equipped laboratories that meet modern-day requirements, satisfy individual tenant’s wishes and provide ideal conditions for young biotechnology companies. And this in no way solely applies to start-ups. Almost all of the available space can be used for office or lab purposes as well as special functions. The planners at Infraserv ensured the highest possible degree of flexibility so as to accommodate the changing requirements of various tenants. As a result, all areas of the building are or can be equipped with connection points to ensure that typical laboratory media can be made available.

The FIZ’s infrastructure functions were minutely thought through – right up to details like the feed shafts or vents for special waste air. In addition, importance was placed on ensuring high-quality and durable equipment coupled with low-cost concepts while planning and fitting the building. For instance, heat recovery from waste air and laboratory-specific air volume control minimize energy consumption. Infraserv also has interesting solutions on offer for the ever more important segment of web-based e-business: from voice-over IP to knowledge databases, building automation or automated online surveillance of active laboratory equipment.