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The structural engineering contract for the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Lemgo is on the home straight.

In August 2022, the Construction and Property Service of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (BLB NRW) awarded PORR Hochbau West the contract for two state-of-the-art, turnkey laboratory buildings on the campus of the Technical University of East Westphalia-Lippe in Lemgo. A good two years later, the building for the Life Science Technologies department on Bunsenstraße was handed over. This will be followed by the handover of the new laboratory building for the departments of electrical engineering and computer engineering, as well as mechanical engineering and mechatronics on Liebigstraße.

The architecture is both functional and aesthetic.

 

© PORR

The architecture is both functional and aesthetic

The completed laboratory building has a gross floor area of 3,379 square metres, spread over three levels, as well as a penthouse floor. It houses two lecture theatres with media technology, common areas, as well as a technical centre for meat technology, for protein-based foods, and for baking and confectionery technology. With its anthracite-coloured, highly insulated curtain wall, aesthetic, up to 6.3-metre-high exposed concrete walls and impressive grid patterns in the entrance area, the new building is architecturally extremely sophisticated.

The second building follows almost the same design concept and is compactly designed with a split level over four levels, plus a penthouse floor. In the future, students will be able to carry out load, vibration and sound experiments here, among other things. The 4,837 square metres of floor space accommodate seminar and office areas, a roller dynamometer, various engine test stands, an EMC chamber and an anechoic room. The world's oldest diesel engine, built in 1903 and still in working order, is given a place of honour in the foyer.

Specialised interior fittings require a high level of coordination

Until the handover, the PORR structural engineering team coordinates the final interior construction, the commissioning of the mechanical engineering elements, as well as the adjustment of the building services. This is particularly complex in a laboratory building. Among other things, pipes for compressed air and noble gases, DC busbars, smoke and heat ventilation, fire alarm and burglar alarm systems, as well as a comprehensive ventilation system were installed. The on-site construction of the laboratories is also being integrated and managed by project manager Joachim Pälmke and a total of seven PORR site managers.

Joachim Pälmke on the exceptionally diverse demands on the team: ‘All the trades are delivering top performance and impressing with the realisation of individual solutions for this highly specialised laboratory building. From the quality of the exposed concrete walls to the installation of the testing and building technology and the functional connection of the historic diesel engine – practically nothing in this project was off-the-peg. The fact that the quality of the work was ultimately up to standard is also thanks to the excellent cooperation with the project managers from the Bielefeld branch of BLB NRW and the university.’

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