How Timber Construction and High-Tech Are Setting New Standards for Office Buildings
From Nature to the City: Why the new office building in Berlin-Mitte is being constructed as a timber hybrid – and what a family business from Austria has to do with it.
A new office building is currently taking shape in Berlin-Mitte that’s already drawing attention before its completion: the Anna Lindh Haus. Located on one of the capital’s most attractive plots, this new development is not only an architectural eye-catcher but also a bold statement – for sustainability, technical innovation, and a new quality of work environments. And it’s all made possible by a time-honored material: wood.
Wood: The Building Material of the Future
“Wood is high-tech today,” says Dr. Erich Wiesner, CEO of Austrian timber construction company WIEHAG. His firm was commissioned by CA Immo to carry out the timber construction for the Anna Lindh Haus – for good reason: “We’ve been working in timber construction for 175 years. And in recent years, we’ve realized some of the most ambitious timber projects worldwide – from Singapore to Milwaukee.”
WIEHAG is among the pioneers of a development that’s bringing timber construction into the vertical realm. What was once limited to three or five stories now reaches skyward – as a hybrid of timber, concrete, and steel. The reasons are clear: the construction sector faces enormous challenges in reducing CO₂ emissions. As a renewable raw material, wood binds CO₂ during its growth and stores it in the finished building. That makes it the ideal building material for the era of sustainable construction.
Precision Work from the Forest
But how does a tree from the forest become part of Berlin’s cityscape? Dr. Wiesner explains: “Our production process starts in the forest. The wood comes from sustainable forestry in Central Europe. The logs are cut into boards at sawmills, then brought to our factory.” There, the material is dried, sorted, and glued into structural components.
Particularly remarkable: the entire production is digital – with a level of precision rarely seen in industrial construction. “All parts are prepared using CNC machines with millimeter accuracy – we work with a tolerance of just 0.5 millimeters. That’s almost unheard of in the construction industry,” says Wiesner. The finished components – beams, columns, connectors – are delivered to the site as a ready-to-assemble kit.
Everything from One Source – From Design to Assembly
For the Anna Lindh Haus, WIEHAG is not only producing but also assembling the timber components on site. “That makes total sense,” says Wiesner. “Only when everything comes from a single source – planning, production, and assembly – can we guarantee this level of precision on site.”
The company sees itself not just as a contractor, but as an enabler of technical possibilities. “The architecture of the Anna Lindh Haus is demanding. And many architecture firms still have little experience with large timber hybrid buildings. Our job is to help make those ideas a reality.”
Wood Creates Atmosphere – And New Workspaces
Beyond ecological and technical advantages, wood has another strength: it creates a special atmosphere. “You can feel it as soon as you enter a wooden building,” says Wiesner. “It smells different, the acoustics are more pleasant, and the material has a calming effect.”
This makes it especially appealing for companies seeking to create modern work environments through high-quality office architecture. Studies show: people are more productive in spaces with natural materials. Wood supports well-being – a factor that can be crucial in the age of home office and return-to-office dynamics.
A Pioneering Project with Signal Effect
The Anna Lindh Haus is one of the first timber hybrid buildings of its kind in Berlin – and it won’t be the last. “Projects like this set new standards,” says Wiesner. “They show what’s possible – and they inspire others.”
WIEHAG is not just a supplier, but a pioneer. “We come from a small niche – but we’re seeing massive international demand. Timber construction is only just beginning. And we’re proud to be setting such a visible example in Berlin.”
The Anna Lindh Haus is more than just a modern office building. It is a symbol of a new building culture – one that stands for sustainability, precision, quality, and humanity. And it shows that wood, when combined with high-tech and expertise, is truly a material of the future.
