Information
Owner
OTTO FUCHS KG
Architect
Atelier Christ (Freudenberg, Germany)
Product
SageGlass DGU
Project Size
18,352 ft² / 1,705 m²
Photos
© Christian Eblenkamp
Body

The Challenge

OTTO FUCHS KG is based in Meinerzhagen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company manufactures security-related light metal components for cars, aircraft and plants. The dynamic evolution of the international company led in 2020 to the construction of a new office building and production hall. The goal was for the new building to express the innovative spirit of OTTO FUCHS KG.

Even in strong sunlight, you can look outside without any problem. OTTO FUCHS also saves valuable surface area by avoiding the need for external sun shading, around 15 centimeters (approx. 6 inches) per facade. Not to mention that our client is able to highlight the innovative spirit of their own company by using this forward-looking facade technology.
Jürgen T. Christ, Architect
Atelier Christ

The Solution

The shareholders didn’t want the openness and lightness created by the glass facade to be compromised by any kind of external sun shades. The sun protection also needed to work in windy conditions, as the position of the building is very exposed. To achieve this, the client and the architects at Atelier Christ opted for Schüco profiles with automatically tinting SageGlass® sun protection glass. The electrochromic glass from Saint-Gobain can be found on all four facades and on the roof of the northwest-facing entrance atrium. This atrium spans six of the seven floors, meaning daylight is able to reach the lower floors. Well-lit and spacious offices, small office and meeting rooms, think tanks, communication zones and service areas alternate on the open-plan floors laid out around the atrium. In combination with sensors and a daylight management system that controls the automatic tinting of the panels, the glass facade ensures sufficient glare and thermal protection in summer without the need for shades. The individual window zones can be controlled automatically or manually, meaning each employee has the opportunity to create their own shading configurations (e.g., for meetings or presentations) using the tablets installed in the offices.

 

The Benefits

The intelligent sun protection glass facilitates a glare-free working environment at all times of day and in all weather conditions for optimized daylight levels. The panels tint quickly, silently and dynamically, with no disturbance to users. Alongside these benefits, SageGlass also appeals to clients because of its low maintenance costs. Architect Jürgen T. Christ adds, “Even in strong sunlight, you can look outside without any problem. OTTO FUCHS also saves valuable surface area by avoiding the need for external sun shading, around 15 centimeters (approx. 6 inches) per facade. Not to mention that our client is able to highlight the innovative spirit of their own company by using this forward-looking facade technology.”