Testimonials

The cooperation with Transsolar has left a lasting impression on us – a sustainable one. The way we think about architecture, the way we work has become more complex, more differentiated – in a simple word: better – through the intensive exchange with Transsolar.

The individual solution, optimized for the situation, is always the focus of constructive cooperation. Even after many years of cooperation, new, surprising solutions are always emerging; new thoughts and discussions are always being generated, which enrich further work – far beyond the current project work – and open new horizons.

Bernd Liebel, L/A LIEBEL/ARCHITEKTEN ‹

Cutting Edge Engineering at the Service of Common Sense

Sustainability is nothing other than the rigorous use of common sense. In a context where technology promises to domesticate any environment and make any design possible at any price, with no regard for the place, Transsolar takes a step back in the search for local strategies that use available resources more efficiently. However, this way of thinking is not romantic or 'antiprogress.' It is about putting the most sophisticated engineering to work at the behest of common sense.

To achieve this, Transsolar makes use of a basic hypothesis: The use of local knowledge and resources in the design process yields energy savings in the broad sense of the term. Their design strategies pursue efficiency by channeling the forces of nature instead of opposing them. Can a forest be an alternative to HVAC in terms of thermal performance? The systematic evaluation of all environmental variables and the rigorous scientific verification of the consequences of design decisions allows for a comparison of local knowledge with 'foreign' technology and 'levels the playing field'.

Transsolar has put design and precise engineering at the service of common sense, showing that it is able to solve the most complex problems. In addition, Transsolar has used technology to verify and strengthen local knowledge, turning it into a powerful ally that values the identity of a specific building, neighborhood, or city.

'Reporting from the Front', Catalogue of the Architecture Biennale 2016, Alejandro Aravena, The Work of Transsolar and their Contribution to Sustainability, Page 232. ‹

A.UD Lecture Series 2017-18: Thomas Auer, Nov 6, 2017

Transsolar is a pioneering engineering firm with offices in Stuttgart, Munich, New York and Paris. The firm believes that design is the primary activity for transforming the environmental qualities and performance of buildings and cities and for minimizing the impact and intensity of climate change. Rather than relying on machines and energy to produce building environments, Transsolar looks to design ingenuity, site specific responses, and thoughtful material and formal choices to develop optional performance. They believe that environmental considerations enrich rather than limit architectural innovation.

Why invite Thomas to share his work with us? As evidence of climate change migrates from white papers and distant island communities to California’s central valley, local water use restrictions and America’s coastlines, energy performance is under increasing professional and political scrutiny. Those of us here who practice recognize this in the codes that regulate our work and in the ever increasing pressures these codes place on our design proposals.

The students in the audience may not have heard of deep energy retrofits, energy audits, or benchmarking. The image here visualizes data collected by the city of New York for buildings above 50 thousand square feet and soon over 25K sf. This data is collected to establish standards for future bldg. renovations and alterations. The nyc energy conservation code will require all renovations (of even modest scale) to buildings of this scale or larger to include retro-commissioning of the energy and water use performance of the structure.

Increasingly, architects will need higher levels of expertise to tackle these changing standards. Engineers like those at Transsolar understand performance is a consequence of comprehensive and holistically considered design decisions.

They, and many of us gathered here, will not only shape our collective environmental futures with the design of new buildings but with the retrofitting of existing buildings under evolving environmental standards. Thomas Auer looks at this project with optimism and in this era of Trump and his administration’s official stance on climate change, we all need much more of that. Please join me in welcoming Thomas. ‹

"Transsolar is the only firm that has been capable of building this imagined environment [indoor cloud installation]. It has been fascinating to watch different architecture firms begin to embrace the potential of Transsolar’s capabilities. Because of the trust that has built up between Transsolar and architects, we see more experimental and imaginative projects emerging."

Reference letter Michelle Addington, Yale University, School of Architecture, September 30, 2014 for AIA Institute Honors for Collaborative and Professional Achievement 2015 ‹

Through our professional engagement with BRAC University project, I came across Wolfgang [Kessling] and over the years became very good friends. Through our collaboration in the BRAC university project, we now know what Transsolar can contribute in making building comfortable. I hope and believe that we will be able to do more projects together in the future. ‹

how much fresh air is going into the space? …we are actually providing a higher air quality; we are providing a significantly higher amount of fresh air while we’re simultaneously saving a tremendous amount of energy from all the unique features of the design.
Tom Akerstream is Corp. Facilities Manager of Manitoba Hydro Downtown Office in Winnipeg, Canada ‹

After 15 years of cooperation an assessment of your office? I thought I would answer that spontaneously and honestly ... With Transsolar you can investigate technical boundaries/ limits while trying to "match" economy and ecology. There are only a few partners who are so daring. Together we always pursue the goal of exploring the feasible.
In my role, it is my job to represent the interests of the company owner and to question suggestions - do we really need that, can we solve it differently or even better?
Transsolar is capable of both – reaching out to the feasible limits/ boundaries or realizing down-to-earth technical solutions. That distinguishes you and there are few who act so consistently.

Director Corporate Department Real Estate and Facilities, TRUMPF Immobilien GmbH + Co. KG ‹

Integral planning with all specialist planners allows us to realize sustainable buildings that conserve resources and energy in a tight and goal-oriented design process. The demands placed on buildings are not only becoming increasingly complex due to the mixture of economic, ecological and socio-cultural objectives, but also contradictory in some respects. The holistic design process, together at an early stage, makes it possible to develop a project from the outset in cooperation and to develop and implement new or specific solutions.
At best, this can lead to a shortening of the planning and development process. In any case, however, it increases the quality of the overall design and thus of the building itself. And the result is rewarded by satisfaction, with us, with the team members and not least with the customer. We are happy to repeat such cooperation in the design team with the same or a similar team. Building remains an exciting adventure in which one likes to rely on a proven good relationship.
Dipl. Ing. Olaf Hübner, Partner, plus+ bauplanung GmbH ‹

In our various projects, we have always had the ambition to build energy-plus buildings that are as CO2-neutral as possible, both in construction and operation, and as self-sufficient as possible in ongoing operation, i.e. with as little external energy as possible. Transsolar has found perfect solutions for all projects, which we then put into practice.
Michael Hetzer, Elobau ‹