Thünen Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany: Research on the Waterfront

Two Bremerhaven-based divisions of the Thünen Institute will soon have a new home: an environmentally friendly, functional, and attractive building that includes a quay for expedition ships. CEMEX supplied 10,000 cubic meters of ready-mix concrete for the new building.

The state-of-the-art laboratory, technology center, and office building of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is taking shape at the Bremerhaven fishing port on Germany's North Sea coast. The Thünen Institute comprises 14 specialized research institutes, two of which are currently at different locations but will soon have a new, joint home. 

The new structure was designed as a “passive building,” an international construction concept focused on achieving high energy efficiency. Thanks to the client’s emphasis on an environmentally friendly construction, the building features a compact design with a favorable surface-to-volume ratio, allowing for an effective use of energy for heating and cooling. Achieving a long service life was an important consideration when choosing the materials.

"Concrete that has been properly manufactured and cast has a long life cycle, which may have a positive effect on the ecological footprint of a building," underscores Klaus Kahrs, a CEMEX sales representative in Germany. "Thanks to its high density, concrete also has a good capacity for thermal energy storage and substantial thermal inertia. This is positive for the environment and for energy efficiency. Concrete is one of the most widely used materials for energy-efficient construction and sustainable buildings."

Architectural firm Staab Architekten won first place in the contest to design the new headquarters with their vision for a building that “derives its architectural identity from the interplay between the sculptural form and the vast windows.” The subsequent construction is a very complete work complex that includes conference rooms, a library, an aquaculture facility with laboratories, storage areas, and offices spread over a ground floor and four upper stories. A delivery zone for loading expedition ships will be set up along the quay on the waterfront, where the Walther Herwig III, one of the largest German-owned fisheries research ships, will have her berth. According to Staab, “The sculptural volume forms a distinctive highlight on the waterfront on its northern side.”

Concrete is the backbone of the entire structure. From March until December 2015, a total of 10,000 cubic meters of ready-mix concrete were supplied for the foundations, walls, ceilings, beams, attics, and supports. The building is being erected with a reinforced concrete skeleton structure consisting of reinforced concrete floors and load-bearing reinforced concrete walls, as well as numerous reinforced concrete columns for the laboratory area.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. Celebrating its 110th anniversary, CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.