The building consists of a ground floor embedded in the landscape and a three-storey 143 × 118 m super structure that seems to hover above it. This impression is enhanced by six large continuous light wells and slim pillars arranged with irregular spaces between them. To have a maximum user flexibility no bracings were allowed except a single slender concrete core. The building equipment installations were to be integrated while minimising the overall height. The foyer staircase as well as the diagonal columns and connections bearing the super structure had to be designed as minimalistic as possible. Finally, an erection concept including numerous intermediate steps leading to the final bearing system had to be developed.
The structural engineers developed an overall 3D bearing structure with torsionally rigid girder grids and orthogonally arranged main girders in a composite steel design plus rigid inner columns of hollow steel sections. Focus was here on satisfying all requirements with regards to ultimate limit state, serviceability limit state and convenience in due consideration of the large span widths induced by the irregularly spaced columns.
High girders with installation openings and additionally lowered beam heights were analysed and optimised separately. Structural fire safety was ensured with intumescent coatings for the steel members.
The major contractors were early involved in the design process. The technical expertise and hands-on construction experience of the steel construction consortium helped to develop ideas of how to design the components and junctions with regard to developing an appropriate method of erection the supporting structure. In addition, the consortium realised an innovative design concept based on membrane actions in case of fire to save intumescent coatings for the secondary floor beams. Further the diagonal columns were redesigned as high strength composite columns replacing the original concrete solution and erection friendly connections introduced.
The erection concept for the super structure was finalized based on feasibility, cost and time. Most of the structure was assembled on the ground. Then the whole super structure was hydraulically lifted. The required workflow of the erection process, the stiffening, auxiliary and hydraulic control measures, the surveying technology and the final lowering onto the oblique columns were computer analysed step by step. Meticulous planning was also applied and documented by a written lifting and lowering concept to anticipate the labour and time needs as well as the control and contingency mechanisms. Furthermore, the connections were further developed to compensate tolerances according to on-site needs.
| Project owner | adidas AG | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Adi-Dassler-Strasse 1, Herzogenaurach, DE | |
| Architec | Behnisch Architekten Stuttgart | Stefan Rappold, Cornelia Wust |
| Structural Engineer | Werner Sobek Stuttgart | Prof. Werner Sobek, Angelika Schmid |
| Steel Contractor | Züblin Stahlbau Hosena stahl + verbundbau Dreieich | Lars Feulner, Marc Kluge Dr. Norbert Sauerborn |
| Date of Completion | March 2019 | |
| Steel Tonnage | 11,600 tons |