ZÜBLIN raises topping-off wreath at new Axel Springer building in Berlin

• Realisation of complex architectural design by Rem Koolhaas making rapid progress
• Effective project partnering through ZÜBLIN teamconcept: construction fully on-schedule and on-budget
• Overall completion planned for end of 2019

Time for a short breather for the construction and project teams working on the new Axel Springer building in the heart of Berlin: Today’s topping-off ceremony presented an opportunity to admire the work completed by general contractor ZÜBLIN in just two years since the official start of construction. Following completion of the complex foundation pit and the 1.20 m thick reinforced concrete floor slab, the modern 13-storey publishing house began to rise floor by floor into the sky. Clearly recognisable in the tangle of steel supports and concrete pillars: the striking façade openings for the up to 45 m tall atrium that stretches through the entire building and opens up towards the existing Axel Springer publishing house.

The atrium: architectural and technical highlight
A transfer supporting structure is necessary on the top floor to bear the loads of the upper five floors above the atrium. The assembly of this 1,325 t steel construction is almost completed and the floors starting with the 5th storey and up are currently being connected with tensile strength to the steel composite construction. Presses with a tensile force of up to 22 t are used to connect the reinforced concrete construction of the top floors with the supporting structure at a total of 100 load-bearing points. This load distribution process began successfully and will be completed in October 2018, about four weeks ahead of schedule. Then the temporary supports consisting of 1,050 t of structural steel will be disassembled and work on the up to 45 m high freestanding atrium façade can begin.

Parallel to the structural works in the top floors, the mechanical and electrical installations and the general finishing works in the lower floors are proceeding at full speed. In addition to the assembly of the first façade elements on the north façade, the finishing and M&E works for the office floors, tightly takted according to LEAN principles, have begun from the first floor upwards.

“With the topping-off ceremony, we have reached an important milestone in the execution of this outstanding project,” says ZÜBLIN subdivision manager Jens Quade after the ceremony. “This complex architectural highlight requires not only a high degree of professionalism and skill from all project participants, but also plenty of creativity and imagination in order to always find adequate answers to extraordinary demands.” The project partnering in the Axel Springer team under the ZÜBLIN teamconcept was one of the most important factors for success. “The transparent and close working relationship in a joint project office, supported by a digital, model-based project management using BIM.5D®, proved to be very productive and important for the success of the project so far.” Overall completion of the new building, which represents the future of work and will offer 3,500 employees a work environment focused on communication and networking, is scheduled for the end of 2019.