Projects

City West/ Equalizer Berlin

Balance in diversity

Typology office Building Volume 15.071 m² BGF 70 car parking spaces, 115 bicycle parking spaces Client  DIE Deutsche Immobilien Entwicklungs AG Architect kadawittfeldarchitektur Construction 2023-2026 Competition 2020 Awards DGNB Gold

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Construction of a 14-storey office building incl. underground parking garage
The new building takes up the heights of the surrounding area and blends into the neighboring buildings like a missing piece. In addition to office rental space, the building offers extensively greened roof areas.

The “Equalizer” high-rise office building is currently under construction on the corner of Kurfürstenstrasse and Schillerstrasse in Berlin’s Mitte district. In keeping with the granularity and staggered heights of the existing perimeter block development, the building is divided into three nested cubes of different heights. The middle section of the ensemble is indented in the same way as the building opposite on Landgrafenstrasse, so that the widening of the street space creates a forecourt with an independent address. The 14-storey central section forms the high point of the ensemble, while the other parts of the building have 12 storeys in the north and 7 storeys in the south.

Representation of the high points
Model making study
Pictogram: Concept of staggering

In keeping with the granularity and staggered heights of the existing perimeter block development, the building is divided into three nested cubes of different heights.

Pictogram: Adress formation

The centerpiece of the ensemble is indented in the same way as the building opposite on Landgrafenstrasse, so that the widening of the street space creates a forecourt with an independent address.

Site plan
Pictogram: Green roofs

The office spaces on the first floor are complemented by attractive, versatile outdoor terraces in the green inner courtyard, which, in addition to improving the microclimate and water management, compensates for the predominantly sealed surfaces in the densely built-up urban space. On the upper floors, loggias, roof terraces and roof gardens enhance the quality of the interior usable areas.

In addition, the roofs offer space for solar panels and green roofs with retention areas as further important elements of sustainable construction.

The building meets the requirements for DGNB Gold certification and has received a pre-certificate from the ECARF (European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation) quality seal.

Floor plan

The office space is organized as rental units of 400 m² each, which can be used flexibly as open-plan, combined or cellular offices.

Facade

Facade

Facade color study

The building’s façade, which is partly made of secondary aluminum, features floor-to-ceiling glazing to ensure a high degree of transparency and excellent lighting for the workstations. Individually operated ventilation flaps in the façade complement the building’s mechanical ventilation system. The external appearance is characterized by vertically arranged double pilaster strips, which support the upright effect of the building and are coated in various harmoniously coordinated shades of red. A colour gradient that picks up on the urban planning principle of the equalizer underlines the unique selling point and thus the users’ identification with “their” building.

Picture: kadawittfeldarchitektur / Guido Schwark
Picture: kadawittfeldarchitektur / Guido Schwark
May 31st, 2024
Foundation stone laid for 'Equalizer' office building in Berlin

On 31 May, together with DIE Deutsche Immobilien Entwicklungs AG (DIEAG), the general contractor Ed. Züblin AG and many guests, we celebrated the symbolic start of construction of the “Equalizer” office building in Berlin’s Mitte district.

The 14-storey building will provide around 13,000 sqm of floor space, divided into 400 sqm rental units that can be used flexibly as open-plan, combi or cubicle offices. The building is characterised by numerous green and open spaces, a landscaped courtyard and outdoor terraces and loggias. In addition, the green roofs provide retention areas and space for solar panels. The building is highly recognisable thanks to the vertical double pilaster strips in the façade and the harmonious colour gradient.

The new building meets the requirements for DGNB Gold certification and has been pre-certified by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF). It will be designed in BIM (LP5: Model Detail Level 300).