Success in a competition led to ATP Architects and Engineers of Zurich/Innsbruck being commissioned to design an LCD display systems production facility for the systems and software firm BMG MIS (formerly AEG MIS). The building is notable for its combination of an elegant architectural language with high energy efficiency.
The restrained urban design strategy is reinforced by the choice of materials and colors for the building envelope. All building elements are clad with silver-grey coated steel paneling and areas of glazing have flat sunshades of the same color, which reinforces the formal unity of the building volume. The columns and beams supporting the canopy to the external foyer are also constructed of steel of the same color while the canopy itself consists of scale-like panels of safety glass overlaid with dots as a protection against the sun.
The internal spaces which open onto the external landscape and the atrium and which are extremely bright due to the high proportion of glazing are basically finished in white. Accents are established by the exposed concrete stair cores and the anthracite-colored flooring material. The office and cleanroom areas create a clean and bright impression in contrast with the internal space of the assembly hall which is given a warm and even homely impression by the unclad timber shuttering of the ceiling.
The amount of paved area has been reduced to the absolute minimum. This was made possible by the development of stacking as a logical solution for the cleanroom areas which had no negative impact on processing flows. Travel distances could even be reduced. The extreme avoidance of external parking spaces and the use of turf pavers penetrated by grass for the access road to the open parking deck improve the building’s micro-climate. All roof areas are extensively landscape.
The system and software company BMG MIS stands for competence in the fields of software, display systems and services in selected market segments in Germany and abroad. The display systems focus on the use of liquid crystal displays. These are completely developed and produced at its Ulm facility. As a result of growth forecasts, the additional production space which was required as a consequence and the desire to optimize process flows, BMG MIS decided to leave its city center premises which had become too small and to construct a new building in Science Park II, which is part of Eselsberg Science City in Ulm
Prize 2010, 1st Prize, invited competition
