What was once "Mark 51°7"—a roughly 70-hectare site of the former Opel automotive plant in eastern Bochum—has long since evolved into a sought-after location for technology and knowledge-intensive companies, attracting diverse industries, research institutions, and world-class research facilities. This innovation district has now been completed with the "Office Campus 51°7," an office complex accompanied by a parking structure that the Harpen real estate group, working with Goldbeck as general contractor, realized in three construction phases.

The result is a carefully designed ensemble of five modern, barrier-free buildings connected by an attractive, verdant courtyard offering exceptional quality of place. The first new building, completed in December 2017 on a 4,500 m² plot, featured 3,200 m² of office space and 85 outdoor parking spaces—marking the first office development of its kind on the site. On a similarly sized plot, tenants moved into a second new building in summer 2020, offering 3,000 m² of office space and 70 parking spaces. The third and largest construction phase brought the "Office Campus" to completion in mid-last year. The three buildings, totaling 10,300 m² of office space, provide workspace for companies such as Goldbeck, CGI, and BeSocial, accommodating over 900 employees. Additionally, a parking structure with 250 spaces and numerous EV charging stations was constructed. All buildings share a clear cubic architecture and are unified by the design element of corten steel, which runs throughout all five structures and is particularly prominent in the striking entrance areas. The recently completed buildings meet the Efficiency House 55 EE standard, with renewable energy sources providing at least 55 percent of the required energy for heating and cooling. These buildings have also been certified DGNB Gold, collectively demonstrating their commitment to sustainable and climate-protective measures. Notable technical features include multiple PV systems, heating and cooling via certified thermal mass activation, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and external solar shading.

The buildings' depth and the concentration of cores and secondary spaces in the central zone meet contemporary demands for flexible office layouts. Features such as pre-installed floor distribution systems and individually adjustable heating and cooling control make the spaces maximally efficient and adaptable. Beyond meeting rooms and focused work areas, the modern office environments offer generous communication and collaboration spaces. The landscaped courtyard, with its inviting gathering areas, significantly contributes to employee well-being and serves as a vibrant meeting place.

www.harpen.de

Photos:
Chris Rausch
www.chrisrausch.de
Benito Barajas
www.barajas.de
Ganzauge Media
Goldbeck West

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|24)