Work starts on £150m scheme to slash power and CO2 emissions by more than half at Frankfurt headquarters

Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank, has begun work on what it claims is the largest office tower renovation in Europe. The reconstruction of its twin 155-metre-tall towers at its Frankfurt HQ aims to reduce both CO2 emissions and energy consumption by at least 50%.

Architect and designer, Mario Bellini, responsible for such projects as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre and the National Gallery of Victoria extension, won the competition to design the interior.

The building, at Frankfurt’s Taunusanlage 12, will meet its strict energy strategy with elements including: a gas-powered buffered heating and cooling system; with the introduction of radiant heating and cooling to the building; by increasing the u values of glazing; and by including opening windows and the installation of solar water heating. These panels will sit on the glazed 90 degree base of the building. The project team hopes the generate sufficient hot water to provide for the kitchen and bathroom facilities. The scheme also includes grey water recycling.

New foyer

Additionally, replacement of the former HVAC in the building will make room for more office space. Bellini will create a newly-designed foyer, larger conference rooms and more flexible office space.

A spokesman for the bank said: “This should give a good hint that investing in a green building facility is not only good for environment but you can win office space. It underlines why we chose this way of a new reconstruction.” The plans grew out of improvements to the building required by fire regulations.

All 2,500 of the bank’s employees were moved out to three temporary locations around the city before the project began in December. The relocation is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2010.

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