A two-story fabrication hall with an attached warehousing and logistics center has been constructed in Laupheim for the Uhlmann Pac-Systeme machine manufacturing company. The building marks the beginning of a complete restructuring of the company campus, the first stage of a master plan initiated in 2013. A contiguous two- and three-story building complex is planned which will combine all departments under one roof. The existing administration building, reflecting the history of the company, is incorporated into the concept and remains a centerpiece of the new ensemble.
The newly constructed building contains a completely re-organized logistics facility complete with a fully automated 26-meter tall pallet rack storage system, as well as areas for the pre-assembly and assembly of the pharmaceutical packing machines produced by the company. This two-story building has been designed around the same 12.5 x 12.5m grid that has been developed as the underlying structure for the greater master plan. A high degree of prefabrication was achieved via the use of precast concrete columns, ceilings and walls, enabling a short building period — despite the fact that the building has two stories, which is unusual for industrial buildings.
Pre-assembly and assembly areas are stacked one above the other on two different stories. Large 4 x 10m openings in the concrete ceilings connect both levels and bring daylight into the ground floor. A saw-tooth roof construction of lightweight steel sits above the hall, with north-facing skylights providing uniform natural light throughout. The upper floor opens up towards the rear of the building onto a roof garden that runs the full length of the machine assembly area. Here, a meandering rhythm of alternating usable green spaces and building surfaces has been initiated, eventually to extend throughout all parts of the expansion. The logistics area is substantially characterized by warehouse technology systems, with areas for delivery, order preparation and storage organized across two floors.
The rear façade of the 135-meter long building is covered by translucent polycarbonate composite panels. On the front side, silver anodized aluminum fins structure the elongated façade in combination with alternating transparent and opaque white glass panes. The fins run across both stories placed at a distance of 2.5 meters apart, connecting all façade elements optically into one unified whole.
Architects — Barkow Leibinger, Berlin, Frank Barkow, Regine Leibinger
Team Competition — Heiko Krech (Projektleitung), Michael Ahlers, Martina Bauer, Viviane Hülsmeier, Nadja Jeske, Daria Khapalova, Heiko Krech, Tyler Swingle, Jens Weßel, Sara Wiedenbeck
Team Construction — Heiko Krech (Projektleitung), Andreas Hertel, Christian Coburger, Cynthia Grieshofer, Irina Matei, Ina Reinecke, Jasmin Scheckenbach
Location
Laupheim, Germany
Size
12.155 sqm
Construction
12/2014 - 02/2016
Client
Uhlmann Pac-Systeme Ltd., Laupheim
Structural Engineer
Knippers Helbig, Stuttgart
Technical Building Services
Innius RR, Rosbach
Facade Planning
Roman Kucharzak, Berlin
Fire Protection
Peter Stanek, Berlin
Building Physics
Horstmann + Berger, Altensteig
Landscape Architect
Capatti Staubach I Urbane Landschaften, Berlin
Photos
© Ina Reinecke / Barkow Leibinger