Eastsite Mannheim (lecture only accessible in German)

Element and matrix layout

The planning and execution of the conductor matrices of the Eastsite VII building presented a special challenge. Due to their difficult geometry, the corner elements were rethought several times in terms of statics and structural design. The consistently extremely high quality of the smooth concrete surfaces required a particularly careful trial run in the use of the formwork, the matrices and the release agents.

The special feature of the follow-up project Eastsite VIII is the development of the world's first textile-reinforced concrete sandwich element. As a result, the facing shell is extremely thin at 3 cm.

70 percent material savings

Normally, reinforcing steel requires a certain amount of concrete cover as corrosion protection: For exterior components, between 30 and 40 mm is specified for B500B reinforcing steel. For facade panels, this results in a minimum formwork thickness of 80 mm. With Eastsite VIII, on the other hand, the reinforcement of the facing shell consists of alkali-resistant (AR) glass fibers specially developed for concrete construction, which do not corrode. As a result, only a few millimeters of overlap are required to transfer the forces from the concrete to the reinforcement.