Mercator One at Duisburg’s central railway station
Duisburg, Germany / 09.2018 - 09.2020
It’s 100m long, 17m wide and 26m high – when you leave Duisburg’s central railway station and head towards Portsmouthplatz, you can’t miss the imposing sight of Duisburg’s new flagship, the Mercator One building. With each additional floor of the building, the end walls extend a further 2.7m and the longitudinal sides increase by 30cm. At night, lines of coloured lights emphasise the striking effect of the expanding sides of the building. The building construction experts of our Münster branch were responsible for the turnkey construction of the prestigious 47-storey structure, which was completed precisely within budget and on time. The total usable area of 10,000m² includes office space plus 1,200m² of commercial and restaurant space on the ground floor.
Inner-city architecture with international flair
Two world-renowned architects have left their mark on the square outside Duisburg’s central railway station. In 2007, Norman Foster presented his masterplan for a 2.7km area in the heart of the former steel production centre. This plan was intended to promote Duisburg’s transformation into a vibrant, green and environmentally conscious city. Consolidation and enhancement of the city’s public spaces were two important elements of Foster’s plan that were also reflected in the Mercator One project, designed by Hamburg architect Hadi Teherani.
Facts & Figures
Company
PORR Hochbau West GmbH
Type
Office buildings
Runtime
09.2018 - 09.2020
A flagship for the modern, cosmopolitan city of Duisburg
The geometrically challenging construction includes two levels of underground parking, and required intensive planning of formwork and scaffolding as well as significant efforts in measurement throughout the construction process. A critical point in the façade construction was the determination of the static load-bearing capacity of the concrete roof, which was required to overhang on each side by up to 13.5m. The team chose the practical and intelligent option of simulating future additional loads on site. Team members applied strain to the projecting construction elements using filled water tanks and bundles of stones. Simultaneous measurements verified the deflection amounts previously calculated from the statics.
Recycled aluminium alloy for a sustainable façade
The Mercator One project also set a new benchmark for sustainability. The heavily screened, anthracite-coloured façade was made from 90% recycled aluminium alloy with an end-of-life recycling rate of 75%. Triple glazing provides for optimum protection from sun, heat and sound, while a hybrid ceiling system provides tenants with lighting, heating, cooling and fresh air. The heat recovery rate is around 80%. The climate of the city was also taken into consideration. Extensive greenery was planted on the technical roof and roof terrace on the sixth floor to counteract the heat island effect.
What ultimately counts in the construction business is successfully completed projects. PORR has many of these.
