Centre d'Aide aux Familles, Erlangen, Allemagne

At the southwestern edge of Röthelheimpark, the new municipal Civic, Community and Health Centre (BBGZ) is being developed as part of a three-part campus. In addition to the BBGZ with the integrated Gerd Lohwasser Sports Hall, the site includes a climbing centre of the German Alpine Club as well as the new Family Centre “Röthelheim 11acht”. It provides spaces for children, open youth work and family-oriented educational facilities.

The family centre does not have a conventional energy plant but is connected to the BBGZ. Heating is therefore supplied via the locally available district heating network. For cooling, the BBGZ’s ground-coupled probes are also utilised, providing purely passive conditioning; no active cooling system is installed.

The climate and ventilation concept was developed through several iterations. The resulting solution features a minimised exhaust air system and represents the most balanced option in terms of energy consumption as well as investment and operating costs.

The concept is based on base ventilation via supply air elements in the main occupied spaces, namely the group and multipurpose rooms. This ventilation is limited to the required minimum and supplemented by intermittent window ventilation as needed.

Summer thermal comfort is ensured through appropriate glazing ratios and external solar shading. Concrete ceilings are designed to remain at least 50% exposed in order to utilise the building’s thermal mass. The underfloor heating system is used as underfloor cooling in summer, helping to limit peak temperatures. A photovoltaic system installed on the roof covers the building’s electrical base load with renewable energy.