Renovation of the DEKRA Branch in Essen

Proven and future-proof
Passive House-certified wall mounts meet the highest standards for thermal insulation and durability
Precise solutions for complex substrates
Schöck Isolink® facade anchors were used on the corrugated concrete facade, and stainless steel wall brackets were used on the flat concrete and wood facade parts
Clearly structured and robust
Fundermax cladding gives the building a contemporary look

Technical precision meets sophisticated renovation

The renovation of the DEKRA branch in Essen involved a complete overhaul of a commercial property, bringing it up to standard for the future.
DEKRA is a German organzitaion specialized in vehicle inspections, product testing and certification, and safety services across various industries.

The project placed high demands on the planning and execution of the ventilated curtain wall facade, particularly due to the irregular corrugated concrete structure serving as the substrate, as well as the transition between concrete and wooden substrates on the building envelope.
The design by architect Joachim Voigtländer features a clearly structured facade with visible fastenings that combines functionality and clean lines. The choice of facade material and the thermal insulation requirements defined the technical framework for the substructure.

Design

The Fundermax Compact Exterior 8 mm facade cladding offers high weather resistance, easy cleaning, and a uniform appearance. The visible fixing emphasizes the building’s functional character and enables cost-effective installation.

Requirements for the sub-structure and installation

The uneven substrate, consisting of corrugated concrete, concrete, and wood, required careful planning of the substructure and precise coordination of the various wall mounts.

The following aspects were particularly important:

Secure anchoring on various substrates
Dimensional stability of the substructure despite an uneven base surface
Thermal bridge-free or low-thermal-bridge connection to the building structure
Permanently corrosion-protected design of all components

Compatibility

Stainless steel wall brackets and Schöck Isolink® combined

A combination of Schöck Isolink® and SYSTEA stainless steel wall brackets were used as the wall mounting system, tailored to the specific requirements of the project.

Both the Schöck Isolink® wall brackets and the SYSTEA stainless steel wall brackets are certified Passive House components.

This made it possible to minimize thermal bridges and additionally ensure long-term corrosion protection under demanding conditions.
For the corrugated concrete substrate, Schöck Isolink® facade anchors were used. For substrates made of smooth concrete or wood, however, SYSTEA stainless steel wall brackets were used.

DISCOVER ALWI-S

The Result

The renovation of the DEKRA branch office in Essen demonstrates how technically complex existing structures can be addressed cost-effectively and with guaranteed quality through well-designed system solutions.

The combination of project-specific custom construction and Passive House-certified components ensures that the renovated facade remains durable in terms of both building physics and structural integrity.

Close collaboration between the architect, contractors, and manufacturers enabled a smooth implementation.

The result is a facade that meets the requirements of a modern commercial building and enhances this DEKRA branch both functionally and aesthetically.