Ruhr University Bochum, IC-Komplex

Customer: HOCHTIEF Solutions AG Building NRW

Architect: Gerber Architekten, Dortmund

Project period: 2009 until 2013

Net costs, building services €: 17,500,000.00

Services: Planning the sanitary systems, sprinkler, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical engineering, communications engineering, conveyance systems (only up to LP3), building control, building automation systems, fire extinguishing systems, media supply

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), housed in a range of buildings built in 1965, offers study programs in the areas of medicine, science, humanities and engineering. As part of a suite of necessary modernizations, the university's "IC" complex, consisting of a nine-story high-rise and several three-story low structures, has now been completely renovated. The facilities housed in the complex include administrative offices, lecture halls, classrooms and laboratories. ZWP Ingenieur-AG carried out the project planning for all technical building services. All building systems were planned in 3D.

 

Heat for the complex is provided via the existing district heating network and a new district heating transfer station. For the structure's general-purpose rooms, ventilation is provided by ventilation units that are located in plant rooms on the complex's rooftops and basement levels and that are linked within a circulation system for heat recovery. The laboratories are ventilated by units linked within a high-performance heat-recovery network. The central HVAC systems for the complex are connected to an adiabatic humidifier that cools exhaust air. As necessary in the complex's various usage areas, non-central humidifiers are also used. In areas with special requirements for climate and humidity control, precision A/C units that closely limit temperature fluctuations – in some cases, to less than 1 kelvin – are used. Incoming fresh air is preconditioned by a cooling system. Laboratory cooling and refrigeration requirements are met by on-campus systems, including a semi-open cooling-water system for cooling laboratory equipment. The fire protection systems for the complex include a fire-sprinkler system in the high-rise structure and a high-pressure water-mist fire suppression system for the central server room in the basement. The media-supply systems are served by a compressed air network and a central nitrogen supply system. Electric power for the complex is provided via the campus's internal medium-voltage grid.The laboratories in the basement are equipped with magnetic field shielding. The complex is fitted with fire-alarm and emergency-call systems throughout and with a building radio communication system for use by emergency and rescue services.

Images: © Solveig Böhl (ZWP Ingenieur-AG)

Worth knowing

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