Bosch Wernau: Well positioned for future innovations
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes – this comparison springs to mind when visiting the completely renovated office and development building at the Bosch Home Comfort Group’s site in Wernau. After the major fire at the Wernau site in March 2021, the building could no longer be used. Part of the attic was lost to the flames, and the extinguishing water destroyed the furnishings and technical equipment on the floors below. After three years of general refurbishment, the 6,000-square-meter building dating from the 1940s now shines in new splendor: The old gabled roof has been replaced by a flat roof with a wrap-around glass façade, and the three floors below have been outfitted with new offices, laboratories, and meeting and communication areas.
Significantly increased development capacities
“The completion of the building is good news for Bosch Home Comfort Group’s Wernau site. For several years now, we have been expanding our development capacities for efficient, sustainable heating systems. Test rigs for testing new heat pumps are therefore in particularly high demand,” says Site Manager Michael Bühler. This is why Bosch started operating the building’s first test laboratory already in the middle of last year, while the refurbishment was still in full swing. Now that the refurbishment work has been completed, the laboratory space has been expanded considerably.
Multifunctional laboratory concept
At the Wernau site, the Bosch Home Comfort Group develops heat pumps, hybrid heat pump systems and ventilation units for the Bosch and Buderus brands, among others. The refurbishment of this historic industrial building after the major fire was an enormous challenge for the company. But it was also an opportunity to bring the test rigs for heat generators and ventilation units up to the latest technological standards. Thanks to a multifunctional laboratory concept, all heating technologies from heat pumps to gas or hydrogen heating systems, can now be put through their paces on each of the test rigs. In addition, the Bosch Home Comfort Group has invested in various new climate chambers in which the outdoor units of the heat pumps can be tested in sub-zero temperatures and snow, as well as at very high temperatures. Wernau is an important part of the Group’s own European research and development network for heat pumps.
Sustainably renovated building with perfect fire protection
The newly renovated building meets all current fire safety requirements. The retained ribbed ceilings are now exposed and finished with a special fire protection spray plaster – and the absence of suspended ceilings has saved a lot of building material. The fire protection concept includes further measures such as numerous safety sensors in the laboratory areas. “Sustainability was very important to us during the refurbishment.
This can be seen in a number of details,” says Project Manager Josef Schneider. “Among other things, the entire building was thermally insulated with mineral materials and optimized for of energy efficiency. In addition, a 130 kWp photovoltaic system on the green flat roof generates emission-free solar power.” It covers the site’s electricity requirements and saves around 52 tons of CO2 per year. The Wernau site has taken an important step toward achieving its sustainability goals. The new photovoltaic system on the refurbished building. (Photo: Bosch Wernau)
The wrap-around glass façade of the new top floor lets plenty of daylight into the rooms, while a special film between the panes prevents excessive heat buildup, reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the offices in the summer. Bird protection was also taken into account: Dot patterns printed on the glass prevent bird strikes. For air conditioning, Bosch uses its own systems as well as radiant ceiling panels with an additional sound-absorbing effect on the top floor. The new test rigs are also designed for sustainable operation: The heat generated by the heating appliances in the laboratory is dissipated via a water recooling system. This closed-loop system eliminates the need for fresh water.
Modern and pleasant working environment
As the floor plan and the general appearance remained unchanged apart from the new top floor, the refurbished office and development building is still well integrated into the existing building complex. The architect retained some existing elements, such as the 1940s stairwell, which was extended to the new top floor. Attention was also paid to details during the renovation: For example, the design of the original staircases was taken up and extended upwards to create a harmonious look.
The modern offices contribute to a pleasant working environment – on the new top floor, now without slopes, but with a wonderful view of Wernau and as far as Teck Castle. “The associates are already looking forward to having significantly more space after three years. They benefit from ergonomically designed workstations that can be used flexibly,” says Josef Schneider. In addition, further incentives have been created to cycle to work: new, large changing rooms in the basement and a large number of lockers with integrated ventilation provide optimal conditions.
But the work on the site is not yet complete. As part of the Wernau master plan, a neighboring logistics building will be modernized and converted in a next step.