Architects
Eike Becker Architekten
Offenbach
Rockywood
Modular timber construction meets digitalization
Located in the port of Offenbach am Main, the ROCKYWOOD building designed by Eike Becker Architekten and developed by PRIMUS developments GmbH sets new standards in terms of sustainability and technical innovation. In a good neighborhood between the Heynefabrik and the future new building of the renowned Offenbach University of Art and Design, the building concept fits perfectly into the up-and-coming urban location with its direct waterfront location. The ROCKYWOOD stands for forward-looking district development and is a symbol of the economic upturn in the city of Offenbach and the port in particular. The communication-promoting architecture brings people together via a publicly accessible plateau with leisure qualities, the so-called Playground. The arcade in front of the open office areas creates space for encounters and interaction and promotes a new world of work.
Builder
PRIMUS developments GmbH
Area
11.000m²
Connected Devices
400 ventilation units, 220 lights, 80 BACnet devices
Duration
2023 - 2024
Use Cases
Decentralized room automation, automatic lighting control, area evaluation
Opposites attract
Two five-storey buildings at the Playground are individual in their form and design. The buildings, which are connected to each other via a base storey, combine old acquaintances: Concrete and wood. The ROCKY part of the building, which overlooks the River Main and the Frankfurt skyline, is made of reinforced concrete, while the WOOD part is a modular timber construction by Kaufmann Bausysteme. The WOOD modules are made of 2,600 m³ of wood. They store 2,400 tons of CO2. As part of the specially developed WOODCYCLE recycling concept, the client PRIMUS developments GmbH will ensure that the raw material used is replanted so that it can grow back over the next 40 years.
Wood hybrid gets smart
The use of renewable raw materials in combination with a sophisticated technology concept for energy-efficient operation results in the perfect symbiosis for innovative and sustainable construction. To further reduce the building’s carbon footprint after construction, PRIME developments GmbH decided to use BlueRange in the WOOD section of the building. The wireless networking of building components via the radio-based BlueRange Mesh enables intelligent room automation for energy-saving building operation. BlueRange networks the decentralized ventilation system consisting of 384 façade ventilation units from LTG with the sensors of 191 integrated Regent luminaires via a specially developed BlueRange Wireless Modbus Adapter. The decentralized control intelligence enables the integrated devices to regulate themselves independently based on sensors and to optimize them as required. This ensures ideal illumination of the usable areas and workstations as well as a pleasant room climate.
Individual room layout made easy
The adaptable BlueRange Mesh can be easily adapted, extended and scaled. It therefore offers maximum flexibility for subsequent tenant fit-outs. The approximately 2,000 square meters of office space per floor can be easily configured into small office units with individual control intelligence without having to worry about additional cabling.
Modular system with radio technology as a competitive advantage
Just-in-time delivery of the prefabricated timber modules speeds up construction progress enormously. Up to 10 modules can be assembled on the construction site every day. BlueRange’s radio-based room automation also almost completely eliminates the need for complex data cabling, which further shortens the construction time. Another advantage of dispensing with kilometers of copper cables for data traffic is the significant reduction in fire load, which is particularly beneficial for wood as a building material.
Award-winning lighthouse project
The ROCKYWOOD consistently breaks new ground with its concept and shows how humane architecture, technical innovation and sustainable building materials can become a living ecological reality. It is therefore not surprising that the building was awarded the Polis Award 2024. A prize that honors projects for meeting the requirements of the city of the future and making a sustainable contribution.
- Pictures: PRIMUS developments GmbH
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