Press Release

Well-being at the office
IHK Region Stuttgart: Enhanced sense of well-being and lower energy costs thanks to Rossoacoustic panels and Nimbus LED luminaires.

wulf architekten, a firm of architects based in Stuttgart, set itself two major goals when building the new headquarters for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Stuttgart Region (IHK Region Stuttgart): a maximum in emotional well-being and a low energy consumption. As light and acoustics play a key role in such considerations, over 800 Nimbus LED luminaires and more than 100 Rossoacoustic panels from the Nimbus Group have been deployed in the 7800-square-metre new building.

It could only happen in Stuttgart: The new IHK headquarters is situated in the middle of the city – just a stone's throw from the railway station – but nevertheless out in the green. The U-shaped new building opens up onto a neighbouring vineyard, which thus becomes a constantly present part of the building. The street side offers a view of the entire Stuttgart basin. "It was our aim to construct a building in which people experience a sense of
well-being in everything they do," explained Kai Bierich, a director at wulf architekten. Emotional well-being begins with the unobstructed view from the window, which around 250 employees at IHK Region Stuttgart have enjoyed since moving in last September – a pleasure they share with over 100,000 visitors who come to the IHK each year for advice, training or to take examinations. They are served by an event section measuring 2700 square metres and containing 30 conference or seminar rooms and three large halls. Over 4000 information events, courses and committee meetings take place there every year.

Light as a factor in well-bein: a constant level of brightness
"In the world of work, emotional well-being is created by transparency and sufficient daylight," explains Bierich. This pours in in abundance through the large windows and domed skylights in the halls and open-plan offices. However, as the sun shines with varying intensity depending on the time of day or time of year, over 800 economical and highly efficient Nimbus LED luminaires have been installed throughout the building for those times when daylight does not suffice. They ensure a constant level of
brightness all day long because the control system automatically adjusts the lighting depending on the intensity of the ambient light.
"We placed great importance on the respective formal expression and grouping of the LED lighting," reports Bierich, "and that is why different rooms have been differently equipped." The open-plan offices, for example, have been fitted with L 196 and L 112 linear luminaires, the public areas with square Modul Q luminaires and the "Wolke Blau" cafeteria with Modul R luminaires in varying sizes. The office workplaces are arranged in rows. The over 600 Modul L 196 linear luminaires installed in the building pick up on this principle, having been linked via a module connector to form long light strips. Modul L 112 and L 196 have been fitted either as suspended or ceiling-mounted luminaires depending on the type of ceiling structure.

Acoustics as a factor in well-being: Productive working atmosphere
"The effective use of material, furniture and acoustic measures is a further factor in creating a feeling of well-being," Bierich declares. In addition to exposed concrete walls and plastered surfaces, it is therefore mainly natural materials that set the scene: shell
limestone and oak. However, in the open-plan offices it is over 100 Rossoacoustic TP30 Knit panels that really catch the eye. They have a sound-shielding and sound-absorbing effect and together with the acoustic elements on the ceiling they create a quiet,
productive working atmosphere.
But the Rossoacoustic TP30 Knit panels not only screen off opposite facing workplaces from one another or create meeting zones, they also bring a splash of colour to the working
environment: the fabric panels with their integrated acoustic fleece are available in 17 different colours so that almost any wish can be fulfilled. "The colours chosen for the panels in the offices correspond to the distinct and brightly coloured guidance system," explains Sonja Schmuker, a leading architect at wulf architekten. "This concept results in an overall impression that is harmonious yet colourful."
In the last few years, the Nimbus Group has developed Rossoacoustic into a flexible modular system. Innovative connectors from the Team range enable users to combine colourful Rossoacoustic TP30 Knit panels with translucent Rossoacoustic CP30 panels. That is exactly what the IHK Region Stuttgart has done in the zoned conference areas in its open-plan offices. The panels can be moved around to suit changing requirements whenever the need arises. Thanks to the new connectors, the featherweight panels can be rearranged into any conceivable
constellation without the use of tools. This approach recently received the recognition of the jury of the Interior Innovation Award 2015. The Team connectors and the Team tools premiered at the Orgatec 2014 – practical little accessories that lend more individuality to temporary workplaces – emerged from the award ceremony as winners. 

Energy as a cost factor: LEDs consume six times less power
"In their materiality and form, the Rossoacoustic panels correspond to our aim of constructing a building where people experience the greatest possible sense of well-being – and they also fit in with our overall design concept," praises Bierich. "That is especially true of the Nimbus LED luminaires with their puristic design."
Moreover, the economical LED luminaires also make a major contribution to the goal of keeping energy consumption in the new IHK headquarters as low as possible: "A conventional lighting system consumes up to six times more power than light-emitting diodes," stresses Dietrich F. Brennenstuhl, founder and CEO of the Nimbus Group. "Which means that LED luminaires pay for
themselves in the medium term despite the relatively high acquisition costs," adds Bierich. "That was decisive for the client."
Besides the economical lighting system, the IHK also has a gas-fired combined heat and power plant, photovoltaic systems, concrete core activation in the ceilings, heat recovery and a high level of insulation with triple-glazed windows. With these
features, the building not only satisfies the conditions for the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) certification in silver but is also within the limits set by the German Energy Saving
Ordinance (EnEV).

Stuttgart, January 2015
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photo 1: Perfectly tailored to Stuttgart: the facade of the new IHK building consists of shell limestone, a local building material. Photo: Brigida González
photo 2: The U-shaped new building opens up onto the neighbouring vineyard. The street side offers a view of the entire Stuttgart basin. Photo: Brigida González
photo 3: The public areas of the new IHK building receive their light from round domed skylights and square Modul Q luminaires from Nimbus. Photo: Brigida González
photo 4: Nimbus Modul R luminaires in varying sizes add a distinct touch to the "Wolke Blau" cafeteria. Photo: Brigida González
photo 5: Over 600 Nimbus L 196 linear luminaires light up the open-plan offices in the new IHK building.Photo: Brigida González
photo 6: By means of special module connectors, up to three L 196 linear luminaires can be linked to form light strips. Photo: Brigida González
photo 7: In the open-plan offices it is over 100 Rossoacoustic TP30 Knit panels that really catch the eye. Photo: Brigida González
photo 8: The Rossoacoustic panels can be reconfigured again and again without the need for tools.Photo: Brigida González
photo 9: Daylight pours in in abundance through the large windows. Over 800 Nimbus LED luminaires installed in the building guarantee a constant level of brightness. Photo: Brigida González
photo 10 (left) : Emotional well-being begins with an unobstructed view out of the window. The neighbouring vineyard is a constantly present part of the new IHK building. Photo: Brigida González
photo 11 (right): Increases the sense of well-being at work: a parent-child office with play corner. The slide car has its own parking space. Not even IHK president
Georg Fichtner can park so favourably. Photo: Brigida González
photo 12 (left): The Nimbus Modul L 196 linear luminaire is for wide-area general lighting. Up to three of them can be linked via a module connector to form light strips.
Photo: Frank Ockert
photo 13 (middle): Modul Q 100: The acrylic glass diffuser panel contains the conical indentations that are so characteristic for Nimbus LED luminaires. Photo: Frank Ockert
photo 14 (right): The Modul R 460's appeal lies in its unique light characteristic with outer-edge illumination for wide-area general lighting. Photo: Frank Ockert