Unique Future of Energy: EEZ AURICH

The exterior shell of the educational center, which operates in the neighborhood of the otherwise ordinary, small town of Aurich, looks truly futuristic, clad in several dozen thousand facade aluminum folded panels. Once a sleepy town, it now pulsates with activity from the construction of the energy and education center (EEZ). The Enercon Center, designed by architect Lothar Tabery, primarily focuses on wind energy, hence it is no coincidence that the building itself brings an architectural whirlwind to the otherwise conservative rural area of Friesland.

Experiential Energy Center

Friesland is a relatively settled region, so it is no surprise that the Enercon center quickly became one of its landmarks. The project, which was initially conceived as a purely scientific center EEZ Aurich, underwent significant changes and expansions during the project’s development. During the implementation, Enercon initiated an expansion to include an educational center for wind energy. Subsequently, other entities joined the project with their topics related to energy issues.

The total area of the center covers an impressive 1500 m², and such a significant size certainly required an unconventional location to highlight this magnitude. Therefore, architect Lothar Tabery decided to place the new center on an artificial island, which perfectly met all requirements for location and functionality of the building.

No One is Alone

The project was originally planned in a significantly more modest form on the Ems-Jade canal, where there would not have been enough space. Thus, architect Tabery ultimately decided to realize it in Aurich, in the district of Sandhost, which offered significantly better conditions for such a large project.

In the middle, on the artificial island, the energy center was created, which, while primarily focused on wind energy, also deals with electricity generation from water sources. The complex, shaped like a broken ellipse, houses educational units and research facilities, as well as a technical center, spaces for extracurricular activities, and conference centers for meetings between students and professionals.

A Project that Sets the Pace

The theme of energy also intersects with other areas such as economy, culture, and education. All these areas complement the extensive offerings of the EEZ center, which currently sets the pace and trends. It essentially functions as a beacon for all those dealing with energy-related questions. Therefore, it is no surprise that Tabery also concluded the entire project with the construction of a tower, intended to visually evoke the mentioned lighthouse. The Education Tower, which rises above the EEZ center, was visually integrated into the scaled facade made of PREFA folded panels as a decorative element. In addition to state-of-the-art multimedia means, it also offers users a stunning view of the entire complex.

Preferred PREFA

Lothar Tabery chose PREFA folded panels made of glossy aluminum with a transparent coating as the ideal decorative and protective material for the facade. “PREFA folded panels 20 x 20 underline the desired architectural concept. They have proven to be the ideal material for cladding a curved and partially (7°) inclined, tapering facade. Similarly, unusual geometries of buildings like the EEZ center can only be processed seamlessly using small elements of panel structures, such as panels,” believes Tabery.

73,000 Installation Operations on 2900 m² of Facade

“Due to the curvature of the facade in several planes, outlining the installation points for the PREFA folded panels was only possible with a precision mounting template individually crafted by a tinsmith,” explains Tabery the complexities of his project. And the project manager from the Berlin company BAU-FA-TEC Bau und Fassaden GmbH adds: “For the column-and-beam structure and the attachment of the facade, several thousand folded panels had to be cut and customized on-site. With a consumption of 25 pieces per m², the tinsmiths installed nearly 73,000 individual panels on the facade of the center.”

In the Right Place

The architect chose glossy aluminum for its noble appearance at optimal production costs and based on the builder's requirement for a permanently metallic surface that would not change due to weather conditions or exposure to solar UV radiation. “Easily bendable aluminum panels were treated with an extremely durable special transparent coating,” says Olaf Oetjen, a specialist consultant from PREFA Aluminiumprodukte. The material can be bent effortlessly without the coating cracking or peeling. The folded installation technique “groove into groove” makes the facade resistant to storms and gusty winds. Additionally, one-third of the facade must also meet fire resistance class A1. “In this area, the structure consists of a rear-ventilated aluminum substructure with brackets and L profiles and a cover layer with strip galvanized, painted trapezoidal steel sheets with aluminum sheet metal serving as the attachment base for the panels,” explains Tabery.

Thanks to the new Enercon center, the entire community of Aurich received a new charge and suddenly moved among cities that boast extraordinary architectural projects. Aurich belongs to an area that traditionally thrives due to wind energy and energy from alternative sources in general. Therefore, it is essential that architect Tabery succeeded in integrating the region's tradition with the architectural design of the new building in his project. It would be hard to find a more suitable location for the EEZ building. With its architectural character and utilization, it is immediately clear to everyone that the Enercon center is simply in the right place!