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Caulfield Sound Shell 
Melbourne, Australia 
© Students of Monash University and Kunsthochschule Kassel
© Students of Monash University and Kunsthochschule Kassel
Caulfield Sound Shell 
Melbourne, Australia 

project description


The Sound Shell itself was developed as collaboration by the Architectural Department of Monash University and the Architecture and Design Schools of the University of Kassel/ Germany under the supervision of Dr. Tim Schork and Dr. Markus Schein.
The project seeks to redress a lack of purpose built performance spaces on the campus and to offer students a free alternative to currently costly practices of stage and/or venue hire. The Shell accommodates a range of performing arts within its floor plan. Potential uses might include musical performances, recitals, dance displays, a poet’s corner, etc.
Bollinger+Grohmann supported this interesting and innovative project with the project management and Karamba workshops to develop the initial design studies.

structure


The main structural system is based on a radial grid that follows the overall geometry. It is organized in main and secondary elements that are all glu-laminated timber profiles.
Each element is unique and therefore the project required a high precision that could only be achieved with mass – costumed manufacturing tools. CNC-milling and an industrial robot manufactured all the parts that were assembled by the students on site.
The solid surface material Corian was chosen for this innovative structure as it enabled the team to achieve the desired complex doubly curved façade geometries and provided them a durable high-quality surface finish, which has minimal maintenance requirements and can be used as a projection surface.
The project seeks to be the first permanent structure to be partially built with an industrial robot in Australia.

Data


Client:
Monash University + MONSU Caulfield

Architect:
Students of Monash University and Kunsthochschule Kassel

Completion: 2015

Awards

Corian Design Awards 2015, Overall winner

Related Links


more projects referring to:
> Geometric development and optimization

30 may 2023

Architekturforum Thüringen

Simon Ruppert is part of the speakers of the ‘Architekturforum Thüringen’. The 61st lecture series is organised by BDA Landesverband Thüringen and the Faculty of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, supported by the Chamber of Architects Thuringia, Germany.

His talk ‘Konstruktionen für schöne Häuser’ is scheduled for the 30 May, 6:30 pm in the auditorium.

29 March 2023

WON: Competition Atrium of the KAIA high-rise

Congratulations to the office of Schmidt Plöcker Architekten, the winners of the architectural competition for the atrium building of the KAIA revitalisation project. The design was convincing with innovative timber construction, the interaction with the existing building, and the public space’s extension. B+G were responsible for the structural and fire engineering as part of the team, and we also carried out an LCA comparison.
You can take a look at the winning and all other submitted designs until 13 April 2023 in the atrium of the planning department at Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 10 in Frankfurt.

Image: Groß&Partner

2 March 2023

Construction Summit 2023

Our colleague Christian Wrede is one of the speakers of this year's event, where the topics of digitalisation and innovation in the construction industry are addressed. His keynote is scheduled for March 2nd at 1.30 p.m.

Christian Wrede is committed to the urgently required reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment and is driving forward the necessary transformation. His keynote deals with the topic: "The Climate Emergency - Transformation of the Built Environment".

20 February 2023

Scandinavian Design Awards 2023

The Norwegian furniture brand Vestre's new factory building, "The Plus", was awarded "Architecture of the Year" at the Scandinavian Design Awards 2023.
The factory is a global showcase for sustainable and highly efficient furniture production in Magnor inland, Norway.
The building serves as a public park and is designed as the first Nordic industrial building to achieve the highest environmental BREAAM rating.

Our Oslo team worked closely with BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group.

Photo: B+G

23 February 2023

Won! Gothenburg's new station building

Together with Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter AS, we are part of the winning design team of a new station building of the central train station in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The goal of the new building is to encourage more people to use public transport by creating additional access points.

The construction start is scheduled for mid-2024, and completion is scheduled at the turn of 2026/2027.

Image: Reiulframstadarkitekter

January 2023

Inauguration of the artwork "Les Mâts"

At the end of 2022, the Place de l'Étape in Fontainebleau and the fountain sculpture "Les Mâts" by artist Elías Gama were inaugurated.

Bollinger+Grohmann was part of the project management team alongside the architectural firm Poiēma Paris, which is responsible for the production and technical management of the fountain. The masts are made of 6m high brass, and the fountain basin is of glazed ceramics. Our primary focus in the project was the masts' dimensioning and anchoring in the ground, integrating the fountain's watering devices.

Contractors for the project: PetitJean and Térideal.

Photo: Poiēma

15 February 2023

B+G Academy

Even with the best academic degrees, one is never fully prepared for the professional field. To fill this gap, we have created our own graduate school program called 'B+G Academy'.
Students and teachers from different B+G locations met throughout 2022 for several days of knowledge transfer, and the first batch of graduates will finish in 2023!

If this sounds interesting for you, then you should definitely consider joining our façade & structure teams.

Photo: B+G

14 February 2023

Our LCA commitment

Structural engineers are key in exploiting the construction industry’s potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Our interdisciplinary and cross-location expert team "Sustainability/LCA" is currently developing standardised workflows to integrate LCA into our daily project work. Our goal is to introduce all colleagues to the topics of life cycle assessment and sustainability strategies at the beginning of this year, to train them in using the design tools developed for this purpose and to introduce this design approach in all projects methodically.

This step is our active contribution to achieving the goal set by the Paris Agreement to reduce global warming to well below 2.0 °C or to continue the efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

Image: Ludovica Tedesco

January 2023

Interview: DBZ 01-02/2023

The current DBZ issue is about the "Energy of the Future". In the context of this topic, at the end of last year, deputy editor-in-chief Benedikt Kraft met for a talk with Manfred Grohmann, Agnes Weilandt, Angela Feldmann as well as Christoph Gengnagel on the future of the structures. The result is a detailed article with exciting perspectives and statements on energy and processes.

Photo: B+G

January 2023

Won: Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach

Xaveer de Geyter Architects won the competition for the new building of the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) at Offenbach Harbour together with the landscape architects Topotek 1, Zurich/Berlin. The new green campus will be able to welcome 800 students.
Bollinger+Grohmann supported the competition team in terms of structural engineering. Construction start is scheduled for 2026.

Image: XDGA

23. November 2022

Altes Polizeipräsidium on TV

In the context of the revitalisation of the Old Police Headquarters (built 1912-1914), the structural safety assessment of the historic ceilings will be done via experimental loading tests due to the lack of existing as-built drawings.
On 22.11.2022, the German regional television channel Hessische Rundfunk was on site with a film team to follow one of the loading tests.

11 November 2022

"Building outside the Box“: 2nd prize for Niklas Haschke

Congratulations to our colleague Niklas Haschke whose “Structural Web Tool” ranked 2nd in the Innovation award hosted by the Bayerische Ingenieurekammer-Bau.
Niklas has developed an intuitive and user-friendly planning tool that can significantly improve efficiency and resource conservation based on data-driven decisions. Also on the team of applicants were Alexander Hofbeck (B+G) and Ljuba Tascheva (B+G).

October 2022

UP!Berlin: Transformation einer Großstruktur aus Stahlbeton

In his article, Christoph Gengnagel (B+G Berlin) is writing in about the transformation of the former East Berlin department store into a modern office building.

The report was published in August in Beton- und Stahlbetonbau and is available now as a download (in German).

October 2022

Distinction: Arbeitgeber der Zukunft

We are happy to receive the "Arbeitgeber der Zukunft" (Employer of the Future) award from the German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalization (DIND). DIND assesses companies for their innovative capacity, the status of digital transformation, employee friendliness, modern leadership, and recruiting strategies. E.g., flat hierarchies, flexible compensation models and employee benefits are included in building a holistic picture which was created using an evaluation matrix and developed with experts from business and science.

16 September 2022

Exhibition: NOW, NEAR, NEXT,

The digital exhibition NOW, NEAR, NEXT, documents in an exciting way current projects and working methods of the NAX partners and focuses on the transformation of architecture and construction. The consistent German values such as perfectionism, quality in construction and project management, reliable engineering services and on-time delivery are enhanced by the experimental, the courageous, the different, the creative, the unfinished and perhaps also the typically "un-German". Research and development play just as big a role as new materials and (digital) processes.

12 September 2022

Groundbreaking ceremony: GIZ Campus

This week, the foundation stone was laid for the future GIZ Campus in Eschborn, Germany. The new six-storey building is being constructed on a total area of 53,000 m², of which 21,000 m² is underground and 32,000 m² above ground. Completion is scheduled for 2025.

Planning and realization is carried out by the Viennese architectural office Caramel, we are responsible for the structural engineering.

Visualisation ©Caramel

9 September 2022

Assembly of ‘Bog Crane’

The second high voltage pylon, ‘Bog Crane’, by PART Architecture, follows the same principles and visual identity as its older sibling, ‘Bog Fox’.

The new mast consists of one prominent member and three other support legs pinned down onto four isolated foundations.

The pylon was designed with the characteristics of the environment in mind and will become a part of the Estonian electricity infrastructure.

Photo: Jaan Tiigi

1 September 2022

Bollinger+Grohmann in Hamburg

We are now also represented in Northern Germany with our new branch in Hamburg. Our office is located close to the Elbphilharmonie.

The address is:
B+G Ingenieure Bollinger und Grohmann GmbH
Am Sandtorkai 40
20457 Hamburg

26 August 2022

Estrel Tower: Construction Site Update

The Estrel Tower is located at the edge of Berlin’s suburb Neukölln. Last week, the construction site was busy, and they finished the work on completing the floor slab.

The 177 m tall tower will become the new landmark and the city’s tallest high-rise. The Estrel Tower is scheduled to open at the end of 2024 and will offer a mix of hotel, serviced flats, offices, gastronomy and event spaces.

It is designed by Barkow Leibinger, and Bollinger+Grohmann is in charge of structural and façade engineering and building physics.

26 August 2022

Laying of the foundation stone: Guest House University of Hamburg

The University of Hamburg is building a new guest house in the Rotherbaum district. The ground floor of the eight-storey building will house the lobby and a seminar room. Flats and standard rooms are planned for the upper floors.

The foundation stone for the University of Hamburg's new guest house has been laid, and completion is planned for 2024.
Bollinger+Grohmann is responsible for structural and façade engineering.

Visualisation ©bloomimage_Buchner-Bründler

24th August 2022

Competition won!

150 years after the initial competition for the historic Stuivenberg Hospital, the winning team of this year's competition for the site's redevelopment has been revealed, and we are part of it.

We will work closely with Architectenbureau Sabine Okkerse, BOOM Landscape, Bovenbouw Architectuur and Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten to give this unique round hospital pavilion architecture, designed by architect François Baeckelmans, a new vision for the future of the city.

Photo credits : ©Bovenbouw - Korteknie Stuhlmacher

01 August 2022

Topping-out ceremony: Waiblingen Süd

The celebration of completing the structural work for the four-group daycare centre, residential floors and sports hall took place this week in Wablingen South, Germany. The building complex is a hybrid construction out of timber and reinforced concrete. B+G was responsible for structural engineering and building physics.

02 August 2022

Won! "Aus der Tiefe in die Höhe - Grubenwasserhebewerk"

In May, we supported the architectural office Mecke Palme in the invited façade design competition for the newly planned mine water hoist in Bergkamen, Germany.

We are happy to announce that our entry is the winner, not least because the design results from a unique creative exchange and collaborative design process between the architects and our office.

Visualisation: Mecke Palme

28 July 2022

Opening: Bavarian Landespolizei in Passau

The police HQ house five offices and around 430 employees, designed by wulf architekten. In addition to service and meeting rooms, the 6-storey building also provides the necessary space for police operational training, areas for a firing range, a workshop, an underground car park for the service vehicles, a canteen and a staff parking deck.
Bollinger+Grohmann was in charge of structural engineering.

17 June 2022

VIDEO: FOUR FRANKFURT

In the middle of Frankfurt am Main, four unique high-rise buildings are currently being built on the former Deutsche Bank site. With their forward-looking architecture and sustainable urban development concept, they will bring together living, housing, and working in the centre of the banking district.

Bollinger+Grohmann is - together with our Arge partner Werner Sobek - responsible for the structural engineering of the FOUR project on behalf of Groß & Partner.

The film looks behind the scenes and shows how we, as a team, master a significant project of this kind.

03 June 2022

Opening of Heidi Horten Collection

We are thrilled to announce that the new private museum for the Heidi Horten Collection opened today in Vienna after almost two years of construction work!

The refurbished building consists of a new underground level and four above-ground floors: an administrative level and three exhibition levels connected by free-floating staircases. The three upper levels are supported by four main supports at the ends of the existing central walls, the façade level and the firewall to the neighbouring building. The façade was preserved in its original state, apart from the incision for the new entrance area.

23 May 2022

Pavilion of Greater Paris Metropolis

As part of its participation in BAP2022, the Greater Paris Metropolis is proposing an exceptional architectural work, unveiling a pavilion that constitutes the first experience of a building based on the principle of a biodiverse wall.

Designed as part of a research project conducted by the ChartierDalix agency over several years, this structure is a massive load-bearing wall and a vertical floor inhabited by flora and fauna.

Photo by ©Camille Gharbi

May 2022

Competition ENERGYHUB: 2nd prize

Congratulations to raumwerk Architekten for winning 2nd prize in the competition EnergyHub, energy centre and transformer station at Deutzer Hafen in Cologne, Germany. The building ensemble provides a transformer station, energy centre and parking facility that captivates with its uniform appearance and, at the same time, refers to the tradition of brick expressionism of the 1920s and thus to the traces of this location.
Bollinger+Grohmann gave expert advice in structural engineering.

Visualisation ©raumwerk

28 April 2022

polis Award for MORINGA

MORINGA in Hamburg's HafenCity won the polis Award 2022. It won gold as the best project development in the category Ecological Reality.

With MORINGA, Germany's first residential high-rise is being built in the Elbbrückenquartier in line with the cradle-to-cradle principle, directly on the water.

Image ©rendertaxi/Moringa GmbH by Landmarken

28 April 2022

Topping Out: KiTa Anwandeweg

The topping-out ceremony for the Anwandeweg daycare centre in Aschaffenburg, Germany, took place today.
The two-storey building with 6 group rooms, an open refectory with a gallery and an administration area is L-shaped around a playground. The new building is a timber frame construction on a flat bedded floor slab. The arcade is presented as a steel construction.
Bollinger+Grohmann is responsible for structural engineering, fire protection and building physics.

April 28th 2022

protoCampo, our new adventure with Wald.City

ProtoCampo is now starting to be installed in the garden of Académie de France à Rome - Villa Médicis following a year of co-design and construction with 44 professional students.

The Villa Médicis is located on the Pincio hill next to the famous Spanish Steps, in the heart of Rome. It will welcome, within its 8-hectare garden, this new 300 sqm timber pavilion.

protoCAMPO is an open architecture fully dismountable composed of an agora made of 17mx17m locally sourced timber and sustainable material, supplemented by a 6m height inflatable dome called the cupola.

Bollinger+Grohmann works together with the architects Wald.City and brings its expertise in structural engineering.

Photos : ©jeudi.wang

7 April 2022

Competition "Ettinghausenplatz": 1st prize

We are happy about the first prize in the Ettinghausenplatz competition in Frankfurt-Höchst, Germany, won by the architects Meixner Schlüter Wendt together with KuBuS Freiraumplanung and Bollinger+Grohmann.
The multi-layered design recreates the cubature of the synagogue, which was destroyed by the National Socialists in 1938, using a greened trellis and makes it possible to experience the unique history of the square.

Image: Meixner Schlüter Wendt

April 2022

Completed: Immerge

Studio Chris Fox's latest artwork is called "Immerge" and was recently completed. The interpretation of the original water tank is located next to the Tramsheds in Forest Lodge, Sydney. "Immerge" resurrects a piece of history by using reused panels. Each panel weighs over 250 kg.

Bollinger+Grohmann was responsible for the structural engineering and specifications of the treatment and protection of the cast-iron panels.

Image: ©Studio Chris Fox

05 April 2022

Construction site: CARL

Germany's tallest residential building to date is being built in a timber hybrid construction in Pforzheim. The residential tower will be constructed predominantly in timber with a reinforcing core as a steel structure. The core concreting work following the sliding method was realised within 11 days, and completion is scheduled for next Saturday.

The tower will be located at the edge of the Arlinger district, including a daycare centre and gastronomy in two five-storied neighbouring buildings in solid construction based on mutual underground parking.

The design is by Peter W. Schmidt Architekt BDA, and Bollinger+Grohmann joined the project team for structural engineering in the Design Development phase and is responsible throughout Construction Document Phase.

29 March 2022

DBZ: DESIGNING MORE SUSTAINABLY

The upcoming DBZ issue features an article by our colleagues Daniel Dieren, Diego Apellaniz and Christoph Gengnagel on digital life cycle analysis as an essential tool to optimise the life cycle assessment of projects in the early design phases. Using the example of the projects "UP!" (Jasper Architekten, Gewers Pudewill) and "VOLTARIUM" (hillig architekten, realace), they describe initial experiences, state of the art and its development potential.

March 2022

Belsenpark II in Düsseldorf: 1st prize

Together with the city of Düsseldorf, the Cologne-based project developer PANDION held an international competition for the high-rise building in Belsenpark II. We are pleased to announce that the design by UNStudio was chosen as the winner by the jury. The design includes a mixed-use high-rise with residential and office use and two other residential buildings.

Bollinger+Grohmann supported the team in terms of structural and façade engineering.

Image: UNStudio & Flying Architecture

March 2022

Ostrava Tower

Ostrava Tower will become the tallest skyscraper in the Czech Republic measuring 235 metres designed by CHYBIK + KRISTOF and Anarchitekt, Jiří Soukup. Bollinger+Grohmann supported the design team during the study phase in terms of planning services for structural engineering, consultancy for façade engineering and building physics and we reviewed fire engineering and MEP/Building Services.
The design features an X-shaped structure and geometry that is concave in cross-section, it shifts on its axis and expands outwards. With its 56-storeys and 98,000 m², it will offer wide views over the city.

Image ©Chybik + Kristof Architects & Urban Designers

21.02.2022

ArchDaily : The 15 Winners of the 2022 Building of the Year Awards

ArchDaily has revealed the 15 winners of the 2022 Building of the Year Awards.

Into this selective list, the Villa M, located in Paris, has been awarded in the Healthcare Architecture category.
The building was completed in 2021 and aims to create a new pact between City, Nature and Health.

The program implemented into a dynamic Parisian area welcomes on the façade of this low-tech architecture, a vertical medicinal forest, fulfilled inside with a wide range of services such as hotel, restaurant, bar, conference area, check-up area.

This oasis was designed by Triptyque Architecture and enhanced on the artistic direction side by the famous designer Phillipe Starck.

BollingerGrohmann Paris has worked on façade engineering.

16 February 2022

DFG Symposium: Vision and Strategies for Reinforcing Additively Manufactured Concrete Structures

The recording of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Symposium held in November 2021 is now online!

In the presentation "Optimizing Reinforcement: Structural Analysis, Challenges and Strategies", our colleague from Bollinger+Grohmann Vienna Adam Orlinski introduces us to the possibilities of 3D-concrete-printing with parametric modelling and the potential within this combination. The presentation was developed together with Klaas De Rycke and Moritz Heimrath as part of the symposium series "Vision and Strategies for Reinforcing Additively Manufactured Concrete Structures".

31 January 2022

FROM COOPERATION TO INTEGRATION

Bollinger+Grohmann (B+G) and the engineering office Ingenieurbüro Greiner / IngenieuRinG (IB Greiner) join their forces.

Expertise, creativity and continuity as well as a lot of pleasure in project work are elementary components of our success. On this basis, B+G and IB Greiner have decided to integrate IB Greiner and its holdings into Bollinger+Grohmann Holding AG as of 1 January 2022 as part of a succession plan.

IB Greiner will operate as B+G Greiner GmbH in the future. The branches in Budapest and Omsk will continue to operate as IngenieuRinG Mérnökiroda Kft. and OOO GF Consulting.

January 2022

1st prize for Sohnstraße 45 in Düsseldorf

Congratulations to HPP Architekten and the whole planning team on winning the first prize. Bollinger+Grohmann Düsseldorf supported the team in terms of structural engineering.

The competition entry stands for a sustainable, resilient, mixed-use neighbourhood that allows for functions such as office, residential, commercial, cultural, daycare and care.

18 November 2021, 7 pm

Book talk: INLEGNO. Cambiare prospettiva per costruire il futuro

The volume is the result of the research carried out by close cooperation between the architects from Park Associati and Bollinger+Grohmann on the wide potential of wood as a sustainable resource in present and future architecture.

Join tomorrow's book talk in the course of the Bookcity Milano 2021 at 7 pm at Park Hub via Garofalo 31 or join digitally. See link below.

The book will be released on 24 November 2021.

12 November 2021

Won: Structural Awards 2021

We are thrilled to announce that the domes of Taiyuan Botanical Garden were selected winner of the Structural Awards 2021 in the category ‘Structural Artistry’!

The three timber gridshells are made out of overlapping beams braced with post-tensioned cables. Bollinger+Grohmann was responsible for the development of the structural concept design.

Kudos to our colleagues at StructureCraft for the further development and fantastic realisation of the structure and thanks to Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and the rest of the planning team for the outstanding cooperation.

Photo: CreatAR

11 November 2021

Digitaltour: ESO-Supernova

Alexander Hofbeck (B+G Munich) and Moritz Heimrath (B+G Vienna) will hold an online lecture on ESO Supernova. The observatory in the north of Munich was designed by Bernhardt+Partner Architekten and realised in close collaboration with Bollinger+Grohmann across three branches. The structural engineering and its parametric workflow will be the focus of this presentation from the beginning of the project until the end.

The lecture will take place on the 11th of November at 6 pm
In order to join this event, register through the link below.

Photos: ©ESO

October 29th, 2021

Radio Television Suisse : On a site of excellence

The construction of the new production centre of Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) in Lausanne is underway. It is located in a prestigious economic area.

The future headquarters is a set of four rectangular concrete buildings that are called the emergences, connected by a "bridge building" called the Champ, for which B+G is in charge of the structural engineering.

The complex is a feat of engineering because the Champ is a mixed steel-concrete structure with a very long range, suspended with a distance of more than 60m between the emergences and a 15m cantilever, all floating 8m above the ground.

The future RTS production site will open its doors in 2025.

©Air Production Suisse Romande

26 October 2021, 7 pm

On the Duty and the Power of Architecture

Klaus Bollinger and the Berlin architect Volker Staab take part next Tuesday in the Architecture Section’s lecture series called “On the Duty and the Power of Architecture". Akademie der Künste members present their current projects and talk about the responsibility and influence of building culture.

22 October 2021

Munch Museum in Oslo opens its doors

The new Munch Museum opened its doors last Friday in Oslo.

The 26,300 m² curved building has been realized by estudio Herreros architects. The museum gathers the largest worldwide collection of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, whose collection has been bequeathed when he died in 1944.

After the Deichman Library, this is the second project in the neighbourhood of the Opera House in the harbour of Oslo. This time, B+G Oslo was responsible for façade engineering.

Photo: Adrià Goula

October 15th, 2021

Laying of the foundation stone: ARENA JO 2024 Porte de la Chapelle

Tuesday 05th October, the foundation stone of the ARENA Porte de la Chapelle project in Paris, was laid in the presence of the Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, and the head of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games organising committee, Tony Estanguet. The structure will house the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events of the 2024 Olympic Games. This hall will be able to welcome 7,000 spectators.

Our team is responsible for both the structural and façade design. The structure in the gymnasium area is a combination of concrete and wood elements. The base consists of a steel curtain wall façade and wooden cladding.

The Arena is scheduled to open in 2023.

October 22nd, 2021

David Telerman - Objects Of Intention - McNeal020 - Arizona

Atelier David Telerman with Objects Of Intention have realised McNeal 020 in the desert valley of Cochise County (Arizona) as an inverted pyramid set into the earth, with stairs leading to an underground square space in the form of a "reinforced concrete box".  

The lid of the box is connected to the surrounding landscape by four walkways of different lengths. 

The ground plan of the pyramid is approximately 15 x 15 m and 3 m deep. The entire structure was made of in-situ concrete and stands on a strip foundation. 

B+G (Paris) was responsible for the structural engineering. 
©David Telerman

You can find out more about the project during the Grand Prix AFEX 2021 exhibition, which will be held at the Palais Royal in Paris until January 02nd 2022 :


21 October 2021

Estrel Tower: start of construction in Berlin

Located at the edge of Berlin’s suburb Neukölln the 175 m tall Estrel Tower will become the new landmark and the tallest high-rise of the city.

Completion is scheduled for 2024.

The design comes from the internationally award-winning architectural firm Barkow Leibinger and Bollinger+Grohmann Berlin is in charge of structural and façade engineering as well as building physics.

Picture Credit ©Barkow Leibinger

September 2021

Hotelimmobilie des Jahres 2021: Ruby Luna

Hotel Ruby Luna in Düsseldorf is "Hotelimmobilie des Jahres 2021". The Hotel project results from a revitalisation of the former Commerzbank high-rise in Kasernenstraße in Düsseldorf designed by Paul Schneider-Esleben in 1962. It is one of the most important office high-rise buildings of early German post-war modernism.
Bollinger+Grohmann was responsible for the structural and façade engineering.

October 18, 2021

NYON – Gradient - Passerelle

Start of Construction in Nyon

After winning the launched competition for two 300-metre-long pedestrian bridges in Nyon together with Exploration architecture, the construction work for the bridge Nyon-Prangins has started.

The project is part of an environmental and social concept and thus serves to reduce mobility-related C02 emissions. The bridge is scheduled for completion in 2023.

©Explorations architecture, Bollinger+Grohmann, Marti-Baron et Xavier Veilhan, perspecteur « Luxigon »

12 October 2021

Parametric Engineering - From material performance to form optimization

Sascha Bohnenberger, Managing Director of Bollinger+Grohmann Melbourne, speaks on the occasion of the lecture series on advanced technologies and optimisation in architecture and design.

Date: 12 October 2021
Time: 5:00 pm Sydney Time / 8:00 am CET
Join via Zoom for free below

October 12th, 2021

Bruther / Arc en rêve

From Thursday, October 14th at 6.30 p.m, we will have the pleasure of discovering and rediscovering the fabulous work of the agency Bruther whose exhibition "Engine, action, form" traces the work of Stephanie Bru and Alexandre Thériot. It takes place in Bordeaux at arc en rêve center of architecture until February 20th, 2022.

Bollinger+Grohmann is collaborating with Bruther on the Frame project - media house - in Brussels and brings its expertise regarding the structural design.

Photo credit : Artefactorylab and Maxime Delvaux

1 October 2021

wienwood21 Prize: Ilse Wallentin Haus

This years wienwood prize was given to four outstanding timber buildings in Vienna and among the winners is the seminar centre Ilse Wallentin Haus at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)! 78% of the four floored building is made out of wood, resulting in low CO2 emissions during the construction and operation.

Bollinger+Grohmann supported with structural engineering.

Photo: Hertha Hurnaus

September 28, 2021

B+G in the rankings of "Séquence Bois" for low-carbon construction

This year, in addition to the ranking of architectural firms, the French magazine Séquences Bois also honours specialist planners who invest in low-carbon construction, especially with regard to the implementation of construction methods using materials such as wood, stone, clay, hemp, straw or recycled materials.

Bollinger+Grohmann is ranked 20th in the list of planning firms active in the field of low-carbon construction. In another list of the most productive planning offices in low-carbon construction, B+G ranks 8th!

September 21, 2021

Nominated for the Brussels Architecture Prize 2021

For its first edition, the Brussels Architecture Prize jury nominated the TONDO footbridge into the "small intervention" category. It's for both its functional and structural qualities, as well as its shape this project was selected.

September 16, 2021

Wald City at Artocène

During the contemporary art festival "Artocène 2021" in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the office Wald.City installed its flexible housing unit "Proto-Habitat" at the city limits. The project combines low-carbon construction with sustainable living and consists of a wooden structure built on site that can be easily assembled, disassembled and extended. The basic module is 45 square metres and can accommodate one to three people and can be extended to a space of up to 120 square metres.

B+G provided technical support for the project in terms of construction.

7 September 2021

“Årets Bygg 2020”: Deichman Bjørvika

The five-storey Deichman Bjørvika library at Oslo’s waterfront was awarded “Årets Bygg 2020” (Building of the Year). Key factors in the jury's final decision were beside the outstanding architectural solutions by the architects from Atelier Oslo and Lundhagem as well as the sustainable production which reduced the CO2 emissions during construction by 40%.

Bollinger+Grohmann Oslo was responsible for the structural and façade engineering.

Photo: Photo: Einar Aslaksen / Pudder Agency

6 September 2021

Lecture: Building in the system in existing and new buildings - as a concept for sustainability

Christoph Gengnagel, B+G Berlin gives a lecture as part of the online seminar of the "Bildungstage 2021 im IKzB" at the Information and Competence Centre for Future-Oriented Building (IKzB).

6 September 2021, 10.15 a.m., registration via the link below.

23 - 27 August 2021

IASS Annual Symposium and Spatial Structures Conference 2020/21

This year, the 7th International Conference on Spatial Structures will take place from 23 - 27 August as a joint virtual event with the IASS annual symposium.

Manfred Grohmann is chairing Wednesday's Morning session S35 "Hangai Prize Applicants 1" at 9.00-10.15 am (UK time).

Sessions 48 and 58 "The future of structural design - symbiosis in architecture and structural engineering 1+2", by chairmen Klaas de Rycke (Bollinger+Grohmann Paris) and Lars De Laet (University of Brussels) take place on two consecutive days. On Wednesday, 25 August, Afternoon sessions-2, 16.45-18.00 pm (UK time) and on Thursday, 26 August, Morning sessions-2, 10.30.-11.45 am (UK time).

Bollinger+Grohmann is supporting the conference as an Event Partner.

19 August 2021

The Public Library of the Year award: Deichman Library

The Deichman Library in Oslo has been named the world’s best new public library. The Public Library of the Year award is presented annually by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in collaboration with the Danish software company Systematic A/S.

Bollinger+Grohmann Oslo was responsible for structural and façade engineering.

Photo: Photo: Einar Aslaksen / Pudder Agency

août 2021

NAX report 2021: International timber construction

The second NAX report 2021 focuses on international timber construction.
As NAX sponsor, Bollinger+Grohmann was asked to report on its many years of experience in international timber construction projects.

July 2021

Research project: MY-CO SPACE pavilion

The MY-CO SPACE pavilion was designed through a collaborative research project between the Technische Universität Berlin (Prof. Dr. Vera Meyer), Universität der Künste Berlin (WM Christian Schmidts) and Hochschule Bochum - Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Prof. Sven Pfeiffer) with structural support from Bollinger+Grohmann, has been completed and is part of the current exhibition “TinyBe - Living in a Sculpture” in the Metzlerpark in Frankfurt.
The exhibition runs until 26 September 2021.

Photo © Prof. Sven Pfeiffer

July 2021

1st prize: Neubau Stadtbahnbetriebshof Weilimdorf

Congratulations to Auer Weber for the first prize in the competition. Bollinger+Grohamn Stuttgart supported the architects in terms of structural engineering.

The depot marks an important entrance to the city. In future, the project unites all the necessary buildings and areas under one landscape roof. Its concise form is developed from the functional framework conditions and its location in the landscape space. The light rail depot is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

©Auer Weber / Sabine Heine Illustration

June 2021

2nd prize: Federal Environment Agency

Congratulations on the 2nd price for the refurbishment and replacement of a laboratory and administration building for the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in Berlin.

The Munich team of Bollinger+Grohmann supported the architects for this very innovative and sustainable competition with a structural concept of a hybrid concrete-timber using cross-laminated and composite timber-concrete slabs.

Visualisation ©Nickl & Partner

1 June 2021

'Fluid Bodies'

3 years ago, Bollinger+Grohmann joined the artistic research project ‘Fluid Bodies’ under the direction of Klaus Bollinger at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. The research project aimed to challenge the conventional formwork concepts about concrete and the pre-existing assumptions about the material and its abilities. Models and objects in various sizes where produced with a series of methods spanning over many disciplines such as architecture, fashion design, structural design and sculpture.

To celebrate the end of the project, the research team opens the doors to the public for a one-day exhibition at the Wotruba-Atelier in Vienna where they completed their last workshop.

1 June 2021, 16:00
Rustenschacherallee 2-4
1020 Vienna

21 May 2021

First Prize: Reinventing Cities Milan

We are happy about the first place in the competition MoLeCoLa promoted by Comune di Milano and C40 Cities, Reinventing Cities.

This impressive result was possible thanks to the multidisciplinarity and integrated design and the collaborative work between all team members under the leadership of Park Associati and Hines Italy: Habitech - Distretto Tecnologico Trentino, ESA | engineering, consultancy & sustainability, BollingerGrohmann, MIC - Mobility In Chain, Baggio Marilena Greencure, Irs - Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale, Schneider Electric, A2A CALORE & SERVIZI S.R.L., Wood Beton S.p.a., Ammlex - Amministrativisti Associati.

Photo: Park Associati

April 2021

ERFURT - BUGA 2021

The Bundesgartenschau in Erfurt has opened end of April and the panorama lift with the 27m long, very light and narrow connecting walkways is in operation. The walkways connect the free-standing elevator tower with the mighty bastion wall. On the city side, the small platform at the elevator tower offers a great view towards the cathedral square and the historic centre.

Architecture: Schulitz Architects
Structural Engineering: Bollinger+Grohmann

Photo: Schulitz Architects

April 2021

SOMNIUM featured in "Stahlbau"

As part of the extension of the Johannes Kepler Universität in Linz, we were in charge of the structural engineering of the SOMNIUM, a free-form platform on the highest building on the campus. The viewing terrace, which is spatially framed by a trellis for future vegetation, serves as a remote oasis of relaxation for campus visitors.

Now the project is featured in the April issue of "Stahlbau" by Ernst und Sohn, Berlin. The authors are Thomas Schaumberger and Arne Hofmann from Bollinger+Grohmann Vienna.

27 April 2021

Competitionline Ranking 2020

The competitionline-Ranking is the only architects' ranking in the German-speaking world that is based exclusively on competition results. Once a year, the competitionline editorial team evaluates all the competition results published on competitionline.com and creates the ranking of the most successful offices from them.

We are very pleased about the good rankings of our office in the following categories:

3rd place in the category STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
6th place in the category CIVIL ENGINEERS
3rd place in the category BUILDING PHYSICS

April 2021

2nd place in competition: NICE HQ, Oderzo

"Nice Headquarter" is designed as a high-tech building. The key characteristics are the transparency and lightness of the façades and the roof, which is a monolithic element that opens and closes according to the sun position and weather conditions. It provides a dynamic and flexible space for the inner courtyard.

A set of integrated lights enhances the building's perception at night, maintaining a high level of visibility and a sober profile blending with the surrounding environment.

Bollinger+Grohmann was responsible for structural and façade engineering.

©Photo: Park Associati and Bollinger+Grohmann

12. April 2021

Stefan Polónyi (1930–2021)

We received the sad news that Stefan Polónyi has passed away on April 9.

Stefan Polónyi was a leading builder, master teacher, inventor, pioneer and role model. His exemplary contribution in science, teaching and practice strengthened the self-image of engineers and consistently enhanced constructive interaction between architects and engineers. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with his family.

Photo: Benedikt Kraft

1 April 2021

Green & Blue Building Award

The Ilse Wallentin-Haus is the recent timber construction at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). The project received the Green & Blue Building-Award in the category “Project” for the focus on sustainability during the development as well as for the use of recyclable & renewable materials.

Client: BIG Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
Architect: SWAP Architekten, Delta Projektconsult
Structural Engineer: Bollinger+Grohmann

Congratulations to the entire project team!

30 March 2021

International Competition in Sicily: Finalist

Our project was one of the 5 finalists in the International Competition for the new Administrative Centre of the Sicilian Region. It was great to participate in such a challenging and innovative project! Congratulations to the whole team:

Studio Transit, Studio Valle Progettazioni, Studio Faraone, Studio Cangemi, United Consulting, Bollinger+Grohmann, Gae Engineering, Studio A&P architettura del paesaggio with Eleonora Tomassini, Vamirgeoind, Fabio Roncato


Image: HERE S.r.l. with ENGRAM

March 2021

Riedbergallee Student Residence: Process

The timber structure of the 5-story student residence (timber and concrete hybrid) is rising in high speed. The prefabricated CLT wall and slab elements, which span up to approx. 8 m, arrive with all necessary openings and milled slots for the service pipes and are mounted next to the buildings concrete cores and compartment walls. Together with Ferdinand Heide Architects from Frankfurt we started planning in early 2018 and were responsible for the structural engineering (LP1 to LP6) and building physics (LP1 to LP7).

Photo: Kai Laumann

February 2021

AIT Award Finalist 2020

The AIT awards are one of the largest competitions for architecture and interior design in the world. The Frankfurt Pavilion by schneider+schumacher and Bollinger+Grohmann was among the finalists in the category Retail/Fair.

The iconic building was constructed for the first time at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2018 and returned again as the venue for events with authors and industry experts from all over the world in 2019. The space-defining structure was generated and optimized by the team, taking into account architectural, structural and static criteria using genetic algorithms.

15 February 2021

"WOOD. Change the present. Build the future."

After one year of research on timber structures, Bollinger+Grohmann and Park Associati are working on a publication to collect all the information. How did we get the results of our research on wood? We combined our expertise through the applied exercise of re-engineering.

February 2021

Fritz-Kissel-Siedlung, Frankfurt: Process

The speedy construction process in Frankfurt's Fritz-Kissel-Siedlung is impressive. After the building permit was granted in September 2020, the first tenants moved into the apartments in mid-December.

Since several construction steps happen at the same time, you can follow every timber module addition phase on the construction site.

Bollinger+Grohmann was already in charge of the feasibility study for fire protection and the structural design for the extension in 2017. We are now responsible for the entire fire protection concept and the structural engineering for the existing structures.

January 2021

Second Annual USGlass Design Awards: Recognition for MoMA NY

We are happy to share that our project "Extension of The Museum of Modern Art", has been recognized in the Second Annual USGlass Design Awards, winning in the low- to mid-rise construction category.

As part of the façade team with FRENER & REIFER , Bollinger+Grohmann were responsible for the structural analysis, building physics proofs, design-assist, construction document phase, workshop and assembly planning of the façade.

January 2021

Digital Media House of the "Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg"

After Baumschlager Eberle Architekten won the Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting rbb "Digital Media House and Campus Development" project in summer 2020, Bollinger+Grohmann were chosen as planners for structural engineering, façade engineering and building physics.

The new building will combine cross-media working and production processes, moreover intensify the cooperation of radio, online and television.

Visualization: rbb/Baumschlager Eberle Architekten

21 January 2021

Architizer A+Firm Awards 2021: Distinction

The A+Firm Awards spotlight engineers and professionals from the AEC sector.
We are very pleased that Bollinger+Grohmann has been selected as one of the five Finalists in the Best Engineering Firm category!

December 2020

FOUR Frankfurt: Construction progress

After the start of the special foundation civil engineering in 2019, FOUR, our large-scale construction site has reached the foundation pit in partial cover construction. The reinforcement of the first-floor slab section has been laid and from now on it will go up parallel to the basement levels with the high-rise buildings.
Together with our ARGE partner Werner Sobek Frankfurt, we congratulate all those involved in the project on reaching this milestone.

15 January 2021

Opening Tondo in Brussels

On Thursday 14 January 2021, the footbridge Tondo officially opened in Brussels.

Designed by Office KGDVS, the "spatial element" connects the House of Representatives’ offices with its recent extensions, the new Forum Building, on the other side of the Leuvensestraat. It can be described as a stiff disc, the roof, on which the floor hangs with a minimal presence of structure.

Bollinger+Grohmann has been responsible for the structural engineering.

14 January 2021

B+G Brussels has just moved!

New year, new office, same nice team now in Rue de la Loi, Wetstraat 26, 1040 Brussels.

We look forward to meeting you there very soon!

14 January 2021, 4 pm - 5 pm

BAU Online 2021: Book presentation "Nachhaltigkeit, Ressourceneffizienz und Klimaschutz“

In March, the new handbook "Sustainability, Resource Efficiency and Climate Protection" is going to be published by Ernst & Sohn. The aim is to summarise the current state of the art for civil engineers and the construction industry with constructive solutions for planning and building and to provide assistance and orientation.

December 2020

"Architektur fertigen. Konstruktiver Holzelementbau."

The new Triest Verlag publication has been available in bookshops for two weeks. The book focuses on design and planning strategies with regard to their professional practice.

In her contribution about "Digital Design - Hacking the digital chain", our colleague Agnes Weilandt introduces the method of parametric design and uses several project examples to show how the design can emerge in a system of synchronous design, technical feasibility and production.

October 2020

Deichman Library wins Norwegian concrete award

The Norwegian award "Betongtavlen" is given to buildings in which concrete is used in an ecologically, aesthetically and technically outstanding way.
The library was designed by the architects Lund Hagem Arkitekter and AtelierOslo. Bollinger+Grohmann is responsible for structural engineering.

©Picture Einar Aslaksen / Pudder Agency

10 November 2020

Emporis Skyscraper Award

This is the twentieth time that the Emporis High-Rise Award. The 164 m high Leeza SOHO Tower in Beijing takes 2nd place and Frankfurt's Omniturm is in 9th place and is 190 m high.

We are happy to have been involved in the planning of these exceptional buildings. Congratulations to the design teams led by Zaha Hadid Arch. and BIG for these awards.

08 October 2020

2020 ConstruirAcier Trophées Eiffel: Awarded

The Lycée Léonard de Vinci in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, has won the 2020 ConstruirAcier Trophée Eiffel. Congratulations to TANK Architectes and COSA - Colboc Sachet architectures!

Bollinger+Grohmann was responsible for the structural design.

© TANK et COSA, architectes associés, Photo : Camille Gharbi

September 2020

First game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Raiders hosted their first game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The opening match in the newly built 1.8bn mega stadium took place on September 21st.

Bollinger+Grohmann provided the design of the cable roof structure and did the studies for the complex Biglift-installation and prestressing procedure of the cable roof. We were present on-site from the very beginning until the last cable was pinned.

16 September 2020

Out now: Ingenieurbaukunst - Engineering made in Germany

The book presents 20 outstanding buildings out of five volumes of the book "Ingenieurbaukunst", published by the Federal Chamber of Engineers.

We are very happy to be part of this volume featuring two of our projects, the Louvre in Lens and the new ECB premises, which even made it onto the cover.