Forum Steglitz
1 / Introduction
Originally built in 1974, the Forum Steglitz shopping centre is situated in one of Berlin’s busiest multi-functional shopping and service areas. With a footfall of approximately 10 million visitors a year the shopping centre also contains a successful indoor market as well as offices and a bowling alley.
Key facts
- Approximately 10 million visitors a year
- Over 63 retail outlets
- Excellent public transport infrastructure
- Composite size of 75,000m2
Related Disciplines
The Project Details
- Client:
Forum Steglitz KG - Architect:
HMA, Garbe + Garbe - Buro Happold services:
Building services engineering
2 / Challenge
Buro Happold’s Building Services team were tasked with an array of challenges stipulated by the client. There vision for this ‘shop within a shop’ boasted five storeys of shops containing over 63 retail outlets. Everything the consumer needs under one roof.
The centre has a composite size of 75,000m2 of which 35,000m2 is retail space. Also included in the area is 8,000m2 used for office space and 5,000m2 for storage. Public transport links to the Forum are excellent, with underground stations and a bus service adjacent to the centre frequently running. 670 parking spaces, of which 125 are underground, are also available.
3 / Solution
The refurbishment of the complete building was undertaken in phases, allowing the centre to continue to function during the construction process. Buro Happold’s building service engineers provided air conditioning and ventilation plants, sanitary, heating, sprinkler, low and high voltage current and a fire alarm system, which features a radio circuit to the fire brigade. This formed a particular challenge, as the revision documents were no longer available.
4 / Value
An integration of new HLS-systems were required for the retail units. These needed to be built parallel to the existing systems, which were replaced due to asbestos contamination. As the centre was still functioning, this overlapping of old and new systems proceeded during the two-year period it took to renew the entire system.
By using glass and light coloured materials, the ground floor interior allows a spacious aisle offering a pleasant overview of the shops.
