The first windows in the mighty glass front have been installed. The construction is on schedule. The costs are not getting out of hand either.
Photo: Gleichauf, Christian”> The first windows in the mighty glass front have been installed. The construction is on schedule. The costs are not getting out of hand either. Photo: Gleichauf, Christian
Gemü is breaking new ground with this building: The future headquarters of the valve manufacturer from Ingelfingen will offer space for 300 employees in the Hohenlohe business park and promote flexible working methods. The company is paying more than 50 million euros for this.
View of the neighbors SWG and Würth Elektronik as well as Waldenburg in the background: Transparency plays a major role in the building Photo: Christian Gleichauf
The family business was very lucky with the timing of the start of construction. The contracts with craftsmen and other suppliers were already sealed when the effects of the corona pandemic on global supply chains became noticeable. “So far, we’ve even fallen slightly short of the estimated construction costs,” says architect and project manager Michael Frey, one of the partners at Schmelzle + Partner from Domstetten near Freudenstadt, at the topping-out ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.
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Freu has been with Gemü for twelve years and developed the master plan for the premises in the business park. This envisages two possible extensions of the size of the building that is now being built. “There’s 18 hectares of space,” says Frey. However, that would probably be needed. Because the new headquarters, which should by no means be called an administration building, is almost 120 meters long and a good 20 meters high and therefore cannot be overlooked in the commercial park on the A6, which is not short of large industrial buildings.
set standards
However, Gemü does not want to impress with the external dimensions, but with the standard that is set on the inside. “I’m a digitization fan, so we have a lot planned here,” says managing partner Gert Müller. It starts with the fact that the wired network should play almost no role in the house. It also has to be wireless fast.
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Agile, flexible working should be consistently introduced when the building is occupied at the beginning of 2024. “Workbenches where you can sometimes use a hammer” will also be available, as will 3D printers for quick prototypes, as Müller explains. This is intended to appeal to new, young employees as well as the art that will find its place here. “It should also be pioneering and digital,” says Gert Müller and doesn’t want to reveal much more.
Architect Michael Frey (from left) with Managing Director Stephan Müller and Gemü boss Gert Müller. Photo: Christian Gleichauf
Architect Frey does, however. The winner of the art in architecture competition was the Spaniard Daniel Canogar, who was allowed to use the Spanish pavilion at the Expo in Dubai. He will present a huge LED installation in the entrance area of Gemü’s new headquarters.
building technology
As far as building technology is concerned, electricity from the roof and intelligent ventilation play a central role. Gas, which was originally intended to be the main source of energy, is now being largely dispensed with following the latest developments. There are more heat pumps for that. Additional photovoltaic areas could be used for this.
The large glass surfaces should not lead to overheating in summer and should also be darkened in the wind. Therefore, another glass front is drawn in front of the glass windows. The atrium will also have a glass roof. Daylight finds its way into the building everywhere.
Gemü boss Gerd Müller with the time capsule, which is to have a prominent place in the foyer of the new headquarters.
Photo: Gleichauf, Christian”> Gemü boss Gerd Müller with the time capsule, which is to have a prominent place in the foyer of the new headquarters. Photo: Gleichauf, Christian
Transparency is also the motto of the time capsule that Frey hands over to the company boss at the topping-out ceremony. It is to be embedded in the floor in the entrance area and covered by a glass plate. “If you hide them, you don’t need them at all,” says Müller. Everyone should then be able to call up everything stored on the chips and papers on their smartphones. Digital that too.
uncertainties
Gemü is marginally affected by the war in Ukraine. The business of the subsidiary in Moscow is currently running out. Overall, the region’s share of sales was in the lower single-digit percentage range, explains Managing Director Stephan Müller. The company could be hit harder by the flaring corona pandemic in China. Employees in Shanghai would sometimes stay overnight at the company because otherwise they would no longer be able to come to work. According to Müller, the share of sales there is 20 to 30 percent.
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