Laying the groundwork for interdisciplinary exchange

(Copyright Photos: Werner Huthmacher)

(Copyright photos: Werner Huthmacher)

(Copyright Photos: Werner Huthmacher)

(Copyright Photos: Werner Huthmacher)

Research and Learning in a Communicative Environment: In February 2016, the new international research center "Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism" (CBBM) of the University of Lübeck was commissioned. The new building, with its 5,400 square meters, provides space for 320 scientists, doctors, and students for basic neurological research on appetite control and energy balance. The center was designed and built by the Stuttgart architectural firm hammeskrause architekten bda. The new research building is above-average energy-efficient: the legal requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance ENEV 2009 are exceeded by about 30 percent, and the building and technical systems are aligned with the Passive House standard. The groundwork for interdisciplinary collaboration in the sustainable research center is laid by the resilient, environmentally friendly rubber flooring from nora systems, which is installed over approximately 4,000 square meters in the CBBM.

Resilient, Uncoated, and Easy to Clean

The communicative heart of the CBBM consists of two bright, light-filled atriums, connected in the middle of the building by a large bridge and several staircases. Here, seating groups and tea kitchens invite researchers to informal meetings and promote exchange between different work groups. The laboratory clusters, arranged around the perimeter and glazed from floor to ceiling, allow generous insights into the scientists' working world. The floors in the CBBM had to meet high functional requirements. "We were looking for a robust, sustainable flooring that also had to be electrostatically dissipative in the laboratories," explains project architect Christiane Weidenbach from hammeskrause architekten bda. The architects found what they were looking for at nora systems. "We have already used the rubber floors in several projects and have always been very satisfied," says Weidenbach. "Thanks to the extremely dense, closed surface, the nora floors are highly resistant to laboratory media and easy to clean." The fact that the rubber coverings do not need to be coated was also a decisive advantage for the planners, as this sustainably ensures a stable and resistant surface finish.

Cross-Functional Design Solutions

Another plus: The rubber coverings are available with various technical properties in the same design, enabling cross-functional design solutions. "The electrostatically dissipative flooring in the laboratories and the flooring in the corridors are visually identical, creating a uniform effect across the area," Weidenbach further explains. The intense blue of noraplan uni also perfectly matched the CBBM's color concept. "Combined with white and beige, it evokes maritime associations with the sea, sky, and beach."

Environmentally Friendly and Ergonomic

Very important to users and architects was the environmental and health compatibility of the floors. nora rubber floors contain no plasticizers (phthalates), making them particularly low-emission, and were already awarded the "Blue Angel" as the first elastic floors in 2006. Especially in interior spaces, low-emission building materials are crucial for healthy indoor air quality.

The nora floors also contribute to a pleasant working environment in other ways: thanks to their permanent elasticity, they offer high walking and standing comfort – backs and joints are protected, so the body does not tire as quickly as on harder floors. For employees in the laboratories, who spend a large part of their working time standing, this is a significant advantage. Additionally, the rubber coverings reduce footstep noise and thus ensure a quiet atmosphere even in heavily frequented buildings.

Durable, resilient, health-compatible, and ergonomic – in this way, nora floors not only make an important contribution to sustainability but also to the well-being of building users.