SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION IN THE CONVERSION OF BIELEFELD UNIVERSITY

Ed. Züblin AG is relying on Knepper's versatile expertise for the conversion and partial demolition of one of Europe's largest connected buildings, the University of Bielefeld.

Work carried out

Creation of a detailed dismantling concept
Deconstruction of the old canteen building
Surface reinforcement and creation of a drilled subgrade with RC material produced on site
Gutting and pollutant remediation work in the existing building
Dismantling of window and glass façades as well as concrete parapets in the existing building

To the service overview

Machines in use

Longfront demolition excavator 28 m
Tracked excavators up to 50 tons with OilQuick attachments
Mobile impact crushing and screening plants
Extensive sluice and UHG technology
Bulldozer with 3D control & compactor
Hydraulic cranes and telescopic forklifts as lifting equipment
Compact machines, small equipment and work platforms

The project in detail

The main building of Bielefeld University, with an impressive gross floor area of 314,000 m², is being renovated in several construction phases. The building from the 1970s is contaminated with pollutants. In addition to the step-by-step gutting of the building sections, the remediation of pollutants is therefore also an essential part of the project. As a subcontractor of Ed. Züblin AG, demolition specialist Knepper has precisely the experience that is particularly in demand here: small-scale gutting, remediation of all common pollutants, mechanical building demolition and civil engineering.

KNEPPER ENSURES A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IN NEW BUILDINGS THROUGH POLLUTANT REMEDIATION

In order to create the conditions for a healthy environment for students and teaching staff in the new buildings, Knepper carefully removes all materials that are classified as harmful substances according to current standards, such as asbestos, PCBs or artificial mineral fibers. This gives Knepper an important key role.

This is because the other trades for the core refurbishment, including the complete building installation and building services, energy refurbishment, fire protection upgrades and a new façade, can only follow once the successful removal of harmful substances has been verified by extensive measurements

CHALLENGES IN LARGE-SCALE PROJECT CALCULATION

Alexander Brons, who calculated the large-scale project together with Managing Director Carsten Knepper, explains the challenge: "Around 300 service items had to be calculated for the tender, long before the demolition work began. However, the planning is progressing, so the situation is often different when the work is actually carried out," he explains. In addition, during the gutting work, a specialist surveyor from Ed. Züblin AG detected further pollutants that were not previously visible, e.g. due to overbuilding. In the event of a change to the performance target, as is the order of the day for projects of this size, Knepper's focus is on working together as partners.

Together with the client, optimum solutions were sought to which Knepper responded quickly and flexibly so as not to stand in the way of the project's progress.

SUCCESSFUL FIRST CONSTRUCTION PHASE WITH GUTTING AND POLLUTANT REMEDIATION

The first construction phase comprises a total gross floor area of around 75,000 m². Knepper carried out the complete demolition of the canteen back in 2020 and prepared the construction site so that work could begin on the new building in the same place. The gutting of other parts of the building included the demolition of the façades, parapets, windows and doors. To date, around 700 reinforced concrete parapets with a total length of over 4.5 km have been removed. The scope of services also includes the removal of tiles, brickwork and plasterboard as well as the removal of residual pollutants, e.g. joint sealants contaminated with PCBs on the parapets. The parapet elements themselves were brought to Lippstadt for remediation in order to minimize exposure to pollutants on site. Each part of the building is handed over by Knepper in a contaminant-free shell condition.

KNEPPER CONVINCES ED. ZÜBLIN AG WITH HIGH SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND SCC** CERTIFICATION

Knepper's high sense of responsibility includes the consistent adherence to all safety measures and standards that the occupational safety certification "Safety Certificate Contractors" (SCC**) entails. As the direct client, Ed. Züblin AG is impressed by the working methods, flexibility and partnership-based cooperation with Knepper and is extremely satisfied.

Your contact person

SALES DEMOLITION AND DISMANTLING
Phone: +49 2941 2841-310
E-Mail: vertrieb@knepper-gruppe.de