Old pumping station

Innovative monument

Revitalizing an industrial monument that has been vacant for over 20 years is a special challenge. Architectural vision and innovative energy technology have succeeded in transforming the “Alte Pumpstation” in Haan into an outstanding building in every sense of the word.

Photo @ Siebel Architects BDA + Engineers

Built in 1878/79, the Haan pumping station secured the water supply for the western districts of Wuppertal. Since the 1950s, it has only been operated for emergency purposes and was not significantly modernized after the war, so that the old pumps have been preserved to this day. It is thanks to a coincidence that the building, which has been empty since it was completely closed down in 1986, has been restored to its former glory and is now open to the public as a testimony to 19th century industrial construction.

From vision to realization

“I was actually looking for a location to celebrate an upcoming company anniversary,” reports Jochen Siebel, whose architectural firm Ingenieurplan Siebel was in charge of the renovation. Then they said: “We’re not celebrating. We’re saving and building”. He was quickly able to convince his business partners, the engineering firms ISR Stadt + Raum GmbH and Leinfelder Ingenieure GmbH, of his vision. The goal: a company headquarters in a historic industrial monument that brings together all expertise in the field of construction and planning under one roof. It turned out to be a stroke of luck that another partner was needed for the financing, as the planning office PBS Energiesysteme GmbH, a proven specialist in regenerative technologies, could be won over to design a sustainable and efficient energy system for the “Alte Pumpstation”. Together, the four managing directors founded BMFS GmbH & Co KG and acquired the vacant gem from the then owner, Mettmanner Bauverein, in 2010.

“The fabric of the building had been empty for a long time The building was in great need of renovation and we naturally had to take into account the requirements of the monument protection authorities,” says Jochen Siebel, describing the challenge of revitalizing the historic pumping station. Fortunately, the authorities proved to be interested in pragmatic solutions, so that the renovation work could begin in December 2010 after an intensive coordination and planning process. After a construction period of just eight months, the four planning offices were able to move into their new home in July 2011.

Modern architecture in a historic shell

“I immediately had the idea of integrating the offices into the existing building as a self-sufficient unit,” explains Jochen Siebel. A three-storey office space of around 1,000 square meters has been created in the completely renovated and extended adjoining rooms of the actual pump hall. The untreated concrete surfaces of the “installation” and the exposed brick walls refer to the industrial character of the building. Large glass surfaces also dominate. “The aim was to create an architecture that was communicative but at the same time enabled quiet, concentrated work. The visual connection from the office area to the old pump room was also important to me. Our employees should be able to experience every day that they are working in a special place. The former pump room with its beautiful mosaic tiled floor and the surrounding corridor including floor mosaic and brass railings has been preserved. One of the three historic pumps still stands here, while a second one in a glass vestibule reminds visitors from afar of the building’s former function. “One of the conditions was to make the historic Pumpensaal accessible to the public again. We therefore founded a cultural association and regularly host concerts, exhibitions and readings in the hall. It can also be rented for events and every Friday it becomes our canteen,” reports Siebel.

Photo @ Siebel Architects BDA + Engineers

Photo @ Siebel Architects BDA + Engineers

Photo @ Siebel Architects BDA + Engineers

Photo @ Siebel Architects BDA + Engineers

The latest technology behind an old façade

In terms of building services, the industrial monument was brought up to date by the planners from PBS Energiesysteme. Their ambition: to modernize the building in need of renovation using innovative technology in such a way that it meets all requirements in terms of cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, environmental protection and, last but not least, indoor climate. The core of the energy system is a solar ice storage tank in conjunction with a heat pump system. This system combines heating and cooling in a highly economical and ecological way using five natural energy sources: Sun, air, geothermal energy, water and ice. The ice storage system makes it possible to store solar energy obtained via an absorber fence in large volumes of water at low temperatures. store temperature. During the heating period, a heat pump extracts energy from the ice storage tank so that the water in the tank freezes and is available to cool the building in summer. The heat pump and a buffer storage tank as well as the control system specially developed by PBS for this system regulate the optimum use of energy.

The cooling and heating energy reaches the offices via an innovative multi-floor construction. The development from ClimaLevel Energiesysteme GmbH combines heating, cooling and ventilation in a single system. The combination of conventional underfloor heating and airflow makes this solution as responsive as it is energy-efficient. In addition, the sophisticated ventilation technology ensures a constantly optimal indoor climate. The system impressively demonstrated its efficiency in the “Old Pumping Station”. Just three months after moving in, the soaked 80 cm-thick walls of the building had completely dried out. According to PBS Managing Director Ralf Mnich, there is yet another function that makes the ClimaLevel multi-floor an “architect’s dream”: all cabling can also be accommodated in the floor construction. Four trades invisible in one system. This convinced architect Siebel, who also opted for this solution in his private home.

Compared to the calculated consumption before the refurbishment, the innovative technology combination results in annual savings of over 19,000 kilowatt hours and reduces C02 emissions by over 200,000 kilograms per year. On average, monthly energy costs currently amount to EUR 0.62 per square meter (including extension). “And without meter-thick insulation!” says Jochen Siebel happily. All in all, a convincing energy concept that was awarded the “RWE Innovation Prize Heat Pump” in 2012.

The “new boiler house”

But it is not only the energy concept of the “Alte Pumpstation” that has won awards. The decision to share a company headquarters has paid off for everyone involved. “We only realized afterwards that we had also created a brand with the building,” reports architect Jochen Siebel. “The “Alte Pumpstation” is perceived as a competence center for all aspects of planning and construction.” This has had a positive effect on the company’s growth and so an extension was due in 2016. Where the old boiler house stood until 1934, there is now a clear building with 240 square meters of office space. The “new boiler house” is accessed via the existing staircase attached to the demolition gable and the energy system also offered sufficient reserves for co-supply. The striking, riveted Corten steel façade of the extension picks up on the brick façade and the industrial character of the “Old Pumping Station” in terms of color. The “New Boiler House” received the BDA Bergisch Gladbach Good Buildings Award 2017 for this.

Standstill is detrimental to progress

There are now 80 planners and engineers working in the old and new buildings and there is still room for further growth. “Our special company headquarters also plays an important role in employee recruitment,” explains Jochen Siebel. “We can offer our employees an attractive working atmosphere. But the health of our people is also important to us. That’s why we have purchased 15 “service” e-bikes.” These and the company’s two electric cars will soon be able to be charged using a photovoltaic system installed on the roof, which was finally approved after tough negotiations with the conservation authorities. “Standing still is detrimental to progress,” says Jochen Siebel, and it will be interesting to see which project will be tackled next at the “Alte Pumpstation”.