CASE STUDY | EDGE SUEDKREUZ The Edge Suedkreuz development in Berlin was designed using nature-based architectural elements The sheer number of timber beams on the office floors cover almost 40% of the soffit, restricting space available for the installation of building services BERLIN COOL The striking Edge Suedkreuz office development in Berlin required a space-defying chilled beam system design that met the buildings exacting ventilation, cooling and heating demands. Andy Pearson reports C haracterised by its atrium of flying staircases and timberclad concrete trees, the Edge Suedkreuz development in Berlin is inspired by an open ecosystem. Bringing nature-based design into the workspace, sustainability and occupant wellbeing were a key focus for the building. Berlin-based architect Tchoban Voss Architekten worked with Buro Happold, structural and sustainability consultants, as MEP on the project. The scheme comprises two buildings, the smaller Solitaire Building and the larger seven-storey Carr Building the focus of this article which is occupied by German energy supplier Vattenfall. One of the Carr Buildings features is that it was built using an innovative modular timber-concrete hybrid structural system by CREE Buildings. The system was adapted by Buro Happold for this project to deliver on the developers modular and sustainability aspirations. Edge wanted to explore the use of prefabrication to help speed construction, while increased use of timber helps reduce the amount of carbon embodied in the building and, where visible, using natural materials helps to create a more desirable office environment, says Martin Elze, associate director of Buro Happold. Timber is visible throughout the building: it includes timber-framed floor-to-ceiling windows, trussed timber roof beams in the giant central atrium and, most significantly for the MEP engineers, exposed timber beams on the office floors to support the concrete deck of the floor above. The sheer number of timber beams on the office floors, closely spaced at 1.35m centres, cover almost 40% of the soffit, restricting space available for the installation of building services. Because the space for installing the services was reduced, it was important to use a highly efficient, well-coordinated building services solution to provide heating, cooling and ventilation, says Elze. The solution to keeping the office floors comfortable was developing a bespoke, high-capacity hybrid active chilled beam. The hybrid chilled beams have a fresh air connection with a heating/cooling coil. Two units are designed to slot between each structural timber beam, measuring 8,100mm long and together 800mm wide. The units provide fresh air and sensible 74 November 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Nov 22 pp74-76, 78 Edge Berlin.indd 74 21/10/2022 16:46