Official Opening of New Building   [20.12.21]

Bee health, biodiversity, honey quality: The Apicultural State Institute conducts research into sustainable solutions for current challenges in beekeeping. Its new building, which was ceremoniously handed over to the University of Hohenheim today, is now also setting standards in terms of sustainability: The new building is the first laboratory building in Baden-Württemberg to be designed as a wood hybrid building and to be certified with the "Silver" target according to the "Sustainable Building" rating system.

 

The location on the edge of the Hohenheim Gardens could hardly be more idyllic. Even when you enter the building, you can literally feel the connection to the surrounding nature. This is ensured, among other things, by successfully combining wood and glass, which continues harmoniously from the exterior façade into the interior of the building.

In the entrance hall, visitors are greeted by a handcrafted wood carving entitled "Yarrow in Paradise," which stretches across both floors on an exposed concrete wall. When visiting the terrace, your gaze can wander over an adjacent pond ("Langer See") and, with a bit of luck, you might spot a gray heron.

 

Pilot project for sustainable building

Above all, however, the building in the middle of greenery is also intended to set green standards: Thanks to the extensive use of wood both in the supporting structure, for the façade, and in the interior fittings, the building achieves a particularly high score in the life cycle assessment.

At the same time, the timber hybrid construction method makes it possible to improve the usual weak points in timber construction, such as summer thermal insulation or soundproofing. Detailed thermal building simulations were carried out to optimize heating, cooling, and ventilation, and passive house standards were implemented in the building exterior. A photovoltaic system is located on the greened flat roof. The next step is to seek certification according to the 'Sustainable Building' rating system - a pilot project for a laboratory building in Baden-Württemberg.

In fact, the bee scientists started using their new building as early as April 2021. Due to Covid-19, however, the inauguration had to be postponed for the time being. The belated building ceremony on Monday, October 25, offered State Secretary Gisela Splett of the Ministry of Finance the opportunity to honor the innovative character of the building and the important tasks of the state institute in a festive setting.

"The contribution of the Apicultural State Institute is known, respected, and irreplaceable throughout Germany. With this highly technical and at the same time sustainable and innovative wood hybrid new building, we have not only given the research institution a new address, but above all an appropriate, contemporary, and future-oriented framework for its work," said State Undersecretary Gisela Splett.

 

Tailwind for bee research and knowledge transfer

Excellent conditions for bee research and knowledge transfer to the beekeeping community were also praised by State Secretary Petra Olschowski from the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts.

"It is institutions such as the Apicultural State Institute at the University of Hohenheim whose high-level research contributes to the continuation of thousands of years of knowledge about bees, their living conditions, and the production of honey. A scientifically sound basis for the management of the honey bee is more important than ever in view of the change towards an insect-friendly agricultural landscape," said State Undersecretary Petra Olschowski.

The President of the University of Hohenheim, Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert, was also impressed: "On the way to a climate-neutral campus, the low-energy construction method is also groundbreaking for future building projects. At the same time, the investment by the state gives us the necessary tailwind for relevant research areas such as the preservation of biodiversity, the protection of bee colonies against the Varroa mite, or more precise knowledge about the effects of plant protection products for bee health."

1,200 m² combine laboratories, apiary, and seminar rooms

The new building was planned and implemented by the partner company LANZ - SCHWAGER ARCHITEKTEN BDA in Constance. The Stuttgart-based architectural firm Ernst² provided support in site management.

Completion was largely on schedule and within budget. The architectural requirements for the two-story new building were anything but ordinary: The building combines completely different functional areas on 1,200 m² of floor space, including laboratories, an apiary as well as seminar and office rooms.

The laboratories are used, among other things, for contract analyses of the quality of honey and residues in order to support regional marketing and thus also beekeeping in the state. In addition, microbiological and molecular biological research on bee health issues is carried out: "We now have sufficient space and ideal conditions - also to deepen our diverse collaborations with various Hohenheim departments," Dr. Peter Rosenkranz, head of the Apicultural State Institute, was pleased to say.

In contrast, the requirements are completely different in the wax and extracting room of the apiary or in the seminar rooms, which are used for courses on bee science at the university, but also for further education for beekeepers.

"Anyone who has ever handled large quantities of wax and honey knows that beekeeping is a tough business! In the seminar rooms, we again wanted an inspiring, feel-good atmosphere. Our new building successfully combines the various requirements," said Dr. Rosenkranz.

The new building of the Apicultural State Institute replaces an old container building located on the opposite side of the "Langer See" in the area of the Hohenheim Gardens. In the long term, the area is to be returned to a landscape conservation area.

 

Text: Leonhardmair / Translation: Neudorfer