Mindelheim - It was already clear in the middle of last year that the district office was bursting at the seams and that new premises had to be created for the employees. The expansion of a fourth floor appeared to be a sensible solution. In the meantime, the planners have done their homework and presented their drafts and the cost calculation to the building committee. Both were then discussed controversially.
First, architect Jochen Schurr from the architects' office m2s Architekten Marktoberdorf presented the architectural elaboration of the addition.
Basically, the entire structure should be divided into three areas, each of which is interrupted by a roof terrace and provides a visual loosening up.
For the building itself, a sustainable timber construction with a high energy standard (KfW 40) is planned, in which the wall construction is to be implemented in timber frame construction and the ceiling made of solid wood elements.
The re-entrant roof terraces serve to illuminate the corridors and divide the facade into three elements so that the overall impression of the addition is not bulky, but rather aesthetically pleasing.
Imposing view of the Mindelburg
The proposed increase would have various advantages. Visitors coming up the stairs would immediately be met by daylight. District Administrator Eder welcomed this idea, especially since you are currently looking at a wall when you come up the stairs. If the planning presented was implemented, visitors would have a view of the Mindelburg, which Eder also liked very much because of the representative effect. Architect Schurr saw the daylight-donating terrace elements as an opportunity to integrate traffic routes more closely. For example, smaller, more casual meetings could take place in seating groups or a standing reception in the hallway.
If the planned double and triple offices were fully occupied, a total of 46 new office workplaces would be created.
A large meeting room for around 20 people is also planned.
The installation of a handicapped accessible toilet on the fourth floor is also planned.
This could then also be used for events in room 400.
Furthermore - depending on the variant - the creation of smaller, open or closed meeting units in the area of the roof terraces or the construction of offices is possible.
In addition, the second elevator should also reach the fourth floor in the future and would therefore have to be expanded accordingly.
In Greta's sense of the word
Andreas Füssinger from the company hls.plan in Erkheim presented the plans for the technical building alignment. For the increase, a construction method according to the passive house standard or KfW Efficiency House 40 is being considered, which is promoted according to the Building Energy Act with special consideration of summer heat protection. According to Füssinger's calculations, CO2 emissions would be just 60 grams per kilowatt hour. The heat can be supplied via the district heating network, as in the existing building, with a very good primary energy value.
One point that later sparked discussion was the supply of cold.
According to Füssinger, the heat that people and technology produce must be dissipated with the help of an appropriate ventilation system.
Active cooling is necessary due to the good insulation.
The pandemic first made clear the great advantage of a ventilation system: everyone gets their own fresh air into the office.
The air is not only circulated, but fresh air is supplied from the outside.
According to the plans, the exhaust air, in turn, is directed outside via the corridor.
Sauna versus ice cellar
With an appropriate ventilation system, the room temperature and the air exchange can be set individually for each office. Because warmth creates comfort for some, others prefer fresh temperatures. A so-called VOC sensor measures the air quality in the room and ensures the corresponding regulation. Depending on the time of year, it is also possible to react appropriately to the sun's rays from outside.
Robert Kettner, managing director of the engineering office for electrical engineering from Memmingen, brought the planned electrical engineering closer to the district councils. All security equipment is based on the requirements of fire protection. Necessary stairwells have to be equipped with safety lighting, for example. On the fourth floor, daylight-adapted control saves enormous energy costs. The user doesn't even notice that a control system is operating in the background, says Kettner. Artificial lighting is only added if the daylight situation requires it.
A photovoltaic system is to be built on the roof as part of the increase in the building's electricity supply. Around 90 percent would be used for self-consumption and only a small proportion would be fed into the grid. Therefore, saving is not really worth it. The system would have paid for itself after seven years.
Jochen Schurr presented an initial overview of the cost structure for the planned increase.
The cost of the building construction is currently just under 1.7 million euros, the technical building equipment a little under 900,000.
In addition, there is a good 36,000 euros for the outdoor facilities, almost a million for the ancillary construction costs, i.e. 3.1 million euros in total.
This includes the extension of the elevator with a good 50,000 euros and the handicapped accessible toilet with around 15,000 euros.
The expected funding from the BEG is around 300,000.
In addition, it is to be expected that construction costs will rise.
"Do you need all of that?"
District councilor Franz Renftle (CSU) had several points of criticism.
He did not understand why the loggias were needed and why more office space was not created, as the lack of space was the reason for the increase.
The district council also had doubts about the necessity of the ventilation system.
"Isn't it enough if you just open a window?" He asked boldly.
Architect Schurr conceded that the loggias could also be closed with glass or that office units would be created in their place.
When it comes to technology, however, it makes sense to be up to date.
The windows could still be opened and all technical components would be cleverly used and could take on several functions.
District councilor Martin Osterrieder (CSU) questioned the necessity of aesthetic concerns.
In addition, the need for a second elevator does not arise.
"And does it all have to be now that the building prices are so high?" He asked the group.
"Every day we wait costs us hard cash," said District Administrator Alex Eder, who does not assume that construction prices will fall again.
Keep a cool head even in summer
District treasurer Sebastian Seefried commented on the necessity of the cooling system: “Wherever we did not install the cooling system immediately, it was retrofitted.
Hermann Lochbronner (FW) spoke out clearly against the roof terraces or loggias in favor of more office space.
Eder had initially been of the same opinion;
However, he was convinced by the generation of daylight.
When asked whether an additional meeting room was necessary, Franz Sirch, head of the “Organizational and IT Management” department, answered with a resounding yes.
That is exactly the space that has always been missing up to now.
The building committee decided to increase the building, the expansion of the second elevator and the construction of a photovoltaic system.
The corresponding KfW funding applications should also be submitted.
The loggias in the southern area should be used as offices.
The northern loggia should be provided with glass and used as a lounge.
The plans will be adjusted by the architects until the next district council meeting.