ISPE “Honorable Mention”
With “erbe 4.i,” the new center of excellence for Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH in Rangendingen, Baden-Württemberg, io designed a flagship project. The building complex, constructed on a total area of 25,000 m², is one of the first industrial buildings in Germany to meet the requirements of the KfW Energy Efficiency Standard 40—and thus consumes 60 percent less primary energy than comparable structures. Issue 1.2024 of this magazine featured an in-depth report on the ambitious project, which went into operation in the spring of 2024. It has now been named a finalist at the Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA), presented annually by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), in the categories “Innovation” and “Social Impact.” In addition, it received an award in the special “Honorable Mention” category. This “honorable mention” is awarded outside the main competition. Each year, it recognizes an exceptional project in which significant challenges in planning, execution, and implementation were successfully overcome.
The Competence Center is one of the first industrial buildings to meet the requirements of the KfW Energy Efficiency Standard 40
“This special award further rewards and validates our work,” says Florian Heimerl, partner and project manager at io. “erbe 4.i certainly deserves the attention that comes with the ‘Honorable Mention’ and demonstrates how, with the necessary determination and expertise, ambitious sustainability goals can be achieved and combined with maximum efficiency, performance, and the highest quality standards.”
Industrial Buildings Made of Wood
The competence center is the largest single investment in Erbe’s more than 170-year history. It is constructed primarily of wood and wood-based materials. Its electricity is supplied by 2,800 photovoltaic modules with a capacity of approximately one megawatt, resulting in CO2 savings of around 400 metric tons per year. In addition to the 2,400-square-meter production facility, the design also included spaces and facilities for product development, logistics, and administration, as well as break rooms and a modern on-site cafeteria with a production kitchen for 500 employees.
A particular challenge was the design of an ISO Class 8 cleanroom in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14644-1. “Working with wood as a load-bearing element was, to some extent, pioneering work. We were among the first to do something like this,” recalls Jeremy Hotchkiss, partner and Architecture Design Lead at io.
Florian Heimerl
Partner at io
Do you have questions about erbe 4.i? Or plans for your own flagship projects?
Florian Heimerl is happy to assist you with advice and support:
