Systematic Office Tower, Aarhus, DK
Copper façade with curved glass
A 60-metre-high office tower complements the existing buildings of the expanding software company Systematic on the banks of the Aarhus River and bundles the activities of the 1,000 employees. The façade emphasizes the vertical and blends in with the natural environment with its copper profiles. Curved elements were also produced for the colour-neutral solar control glazing from SCHOLLGLAS.
When an extension was to be planned for the international IT company Systematic in Aarhus, the planning architects from the design office of the client Olav de Linde, together with the architectural firm ERIK arkitekter, designed a sculptural office tower that creates a dialogue between the near-natural environment along the Aarhus River and the other high-rise buildings in the city.
Project data
Architect
Design studio Olav de Linde, architectural firm ERIK arkitekter A/S, Aarhus/DK
Client
Real estate company Olav de Linde
Engineering office
Niras / Systematic A/S
General contractor
Base Erhverv A/S
Products used
- 3-fold solar control insulating glass GEWE-therm® sun SN 70S, combined with laminated safety glass and ESG, on the ground floor with P5A penetration resistance
- 3-fold sun protection insulating glass SunGuard SN 70S, (with internal blinds, integrated into the building management system) combined with GEWE-dur® with temperable coatings SN 70S HT or Premium2 T and GEWE-safe® LSG
- curved 3-fold solar control insulating glass SN 70S with inner pane made of laminated safety glass
- 2-fold insulating glass made of ESG as parapet panels, partly curved in a radius of 3,400 mm
Photos
Mikkel Berg Pedersen
A landmark for Aarhus
In the 60-meter-high high-rise, 7,350 square meters of office space are spread over 15 floors. The base of the tower is connected to the existing building on the lower three levels via a newly erected low-rise building. The office tower above has a light and sculptural design with rounded corners and large glass surfaces. With its shimmering copper-coloured façade, it forms a strong contrast to the bright base of the existing house.
High demands in the choice of materials
The tower can be seen from many places in the area due to its height and also for this reason, the materials have been carefully selected to enhance the overall impression. Inspired by the city’s copper towers and based on the patinated copper cornice and copper-coloured bay windows of the three-storey atrium in the existing building, the architects opted for a warm and golden shimmering façade cladding. The desired effect was achieved with rolled and bent sheet metal made of patinated copper as well as aluminium profiles anodised in the same colour. The vertical copper slats support the dynamics of the building and give the façade a stylish look.
The façades are divided with window formats that also emphasise verticality. They appear three-dimensional and with depth, so that they are perceived as relief from all sides. Despite the large window areas of 1.5 m × 3.8 m, a frame profile width of only 72 mm could be achieved, which gives the house a light and elegant appearance.
Daylight-spoiled workplaces
The GEWE-therm® sun SN70S solar control insulating glass from SCHOLLGLAS, which was chosen by the architects for the glazing, is a high-performance product with high light transmission, combined with high safety properties and optimal thermal insulation, which is considerably more transparent than other coated insulating glass products. Together with its high colour neutrality, GEWE-therm® sun guarantees effective daylight gain, which is appreciated by architects and builders because of its proven positive influence on concentration and productivity, especially in office buildings.
The very large-format, curved insulating glass with a radius of 3,400 mm could be designed in the same appearance thanks to the flexible coatings. The parapet glass also underwent special treatment. These toughened safety glasses are provided with an enamelling on the back in the colour RAL Mahogany Brown – to match the bronze-coloured profiles of the glazing system.
The insulating glass units were produced, delivered and hoisted into place by crane by SCHOLLGLAS Technik GmbH Isernhagen. Some of them are equipped with internal, electrically operated blinds, which are integrated into the building management system via a special control system.
