Located in central Berlin, close to the main train station and adjacent to the government district with the Reichstag and Federal Chancellery, the 50Hertz Netzquartier brings together an adaptable workplace structure with energy-efficient building systems.
The first building section was completed in 2016 for around 680 employees and received numerous awards for its informal, communication-oriented workplace concept. At the beginning of 2023, construction of Phase 02 began to accommodate another 400 employees.
The project received DGNB Gold certification, with a documented total performance index of 77.2 percentage, as well as the first DGNB Diamond distinction. It was also awarded LEED Gold. These certifications reflect the building's broader environmental, technical and functional performance, while the project's documented energy strategies include heat recovery, waste-heat utilisation, renewable energy generation and a high-performance façade.
Extending the Netzquartier as a unified structure
Netzquartier 2.0 continues the cubature, structure and architectural language of the first building section. Rather than creating a separate architectural expression for Phase 02, the design aims to form a single, homogeneous structure. The supplied project documentation describes the completed first section as a benchmark for informal and communication-oriented workplace planning, while Phase 02 extends the same concept to additional employees.
The combined project has a gross floor area of approximately 25,400 square metres, comprising 16,000 square metres in Phase I and 9,400 square metres in Phase II.
Material selection and performance through integrated building systems
The project documentation indicates that material selection was assessed as part of the building's DGNB environmental performance. Materials were selected according to ecological-quality requirements, while 80 percent of the timber used came from sustainably managed forests. The building also used HFKW-free insulation materials, and PVC was avoided in windows, doors, and interior construction where documented. The external structural system contributes to the building's resource efficiency primarily through its structural role and the flexibility it provides.
The building's operational performance is supported by a combination of mechanical, facade, and energy systems. Thermally activated concrete slabs and heating and cooling ceiling systems contribute to heating and cooling, while controlled ventilation incorporates rotary heat exchangers with a heat-recovery rate of more than 75 percentage. Waste heat from the building's data centre is also recovered and used within the energy system, while district heating provides additional capacity during peak periods. Photovoltaic generation and rooftop wind installations further contribute to on-site renewable energy production.
Documented performance figures show that the building's calculated primary-energy demand was approximately 49 percent below the applicable EnEV requirement, while electricity demand was approximately 21 percent below the requirement. The reported figures were approximately 107 kWh/m²/year for primary energy and 56.0 kWh/m²/year for final energy.
The façade contributes to this performance through insulating and solar-control glazing, which balances daylight transmission with protection against solar heat gains. External shading further limits unwanted heat entering the building and helps reduce cooling requirements.
Flexible layout uses
Adaptability is one of the clearest sustainability characteristics of the project. The column-free interior allows office layouts to be modified while retaining the primary structural system. Open floor plates can accommodate different workplace arrangements, and the smaller team areas created by the internal balconies provide further flexibility.
The start of Phase 02 in 2023, planned for another 400 employees, extends this approach rather than replacing the original workplace concept. This flexibility can support a longer useful life by allowing the workplace to respond to changing organisational requirements.
A structural facade with flexible interiors
The most distinctive architectural element is the external support structure that wraps around the building like a net. Its geometry refers to 50Hertz's role as a network operator while recalling the engineering appearance of high-voltage pylons, substations and transformer systems.
The structure also has a practical consequence for the interior. By moving the supporting structure to the outside, the façade level can remain column-free. This allows the interior arrangement to change without being constrained by a dense structural grid. The project documentation describes the resulting interior as completely flexible.
This structural approach is relevant to the building's long-term use. Instead of fixing the workplace to one particular arrangement, the open floor areas can be reorganised as requirements change. The continuation of the concept in Phase 02 also demonstrates that the basic planning system can accommodate further workplace needs.
Balconies extend the workplace outdoors
Several balconies are integrated into the façade at each floor. They function as outdoor seating areas, informal workspaces, and places for short breaks. Rather than being added only as visual elements, the balconies form part of the workplace organisation and provide additional usable space outside the main office floor.
Inside, the office landscape remains open and communication-oriented but is divided into smaller areas to avoid the character of a large undifferentiated floor plate. The push-in balconies help establish smaller team zones, while a transparent green space between the two room units creates a patio-like area that can connect or separate the surrounding spaces.
