{"id":3682,"date":"2025-05-13T07:49:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T07:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anna-lindh-haus.de\/?p=3682"},"modified":"2025-05-19T13:08:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:08:40","slug":"how-timber-construction-and-high-tech-are-setting-new-standards-for-office-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anna-lindh-haus.de\/en\/how-timber-construction-and-high-tech-are-setting-new-standards-for-office-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"How Timber Construction and High-Tech Are Setting New Standards for Office Buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


<\/a>From Nature to the City:<\/strong> Why the new office building in Berlin-Mitte is being constructed as a timber hybrid \u2013 and what a family business from Austria has to do with it.
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A new office building is currently taking shape in Berlin-Mitte that\u2019s already drawing attention before its completion: the Anna Lindh Haus<\/strong>. Located on one of the capital\u2019s most attractive plots, this new development is not only an architectural eye-catcher but also a bold statement \u2013 for sustainability, technical innovation, and a new quality of work environments. And it\u2019s all made possible by a time-honored material: wood<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood: The Building Material of the Future<\/strong><\/mark>
\u201cWood is high-tech today,\u201d says Dr. Erich Wiesner<\/strong>, CEO of Austrian timber construction company WIEHAG<\/strong>. His firm was commissioned by CA Immo<\/strong> to carry out the timber construction for the Anna Lindh Haus \u2013 for good reason: \u201cWe\u2019ve been working in timber construction for 175 years. And in recent years, we\u2019ve realized some of the most ambitious timber projects worldwide \u2013 from Singapore to Milwaukee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WIEHAG is among the pioneers of a development that\u2019s bringing timber construction into the vertical realm. What was once limited to three or five stories now reaches skyward \u2013 as a hybrid of timber, concrete, and steel<\/strong>. The reasons are clear: the construction sector faces enormous challenges in reducing CO\u2082 emissions. As a renewable raw material, wood binds CO\u2082 during its growth and stores it in the finished building. That makes it the ideal building material for the era of sustainable construction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Precision Work from the Forest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how does a tree from the forest become part of Berlin\u2019s cityscape? Dr. Wiesner explains: \u201cOur 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.\u201d There, the material is dried, sorted, and glued into structural components.

Particularly remarkable: the entire production is digital<\/strong> \u2013 with a level of precision rarely seen in industrial construction<\/strong>. \u201cAll parts are prepared using CNC machines with millimeter accuracy \u2013 we work with a tolerance of just 0.5 millimeters. That\u2019s almost unheard of in the construction industry,\u201d says Wiesner. The finished components \u2013 beams, columns, connectors \u2013 are delivered to the site as a ready-to-assemble kit.

Everything from One Source \u2013 From Design to Assembly<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Anna Lindh Haus, WIEHAG is not only producing but also assembling<\/strong> the timber components on site. \u201cThat makes total sense,\u201d says Wiesner. \u201cOnly when everything comes from a single source \u2013 planning, production, and assembly \u2013 can we guarantee this level of precision on site.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The company sees itself not just as a contractor, but as an enabler of technical possibilities<\/strong>. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wood Creates Atmosphere \u2013 And New Workspaces<\/strong><\/mark>
Beyond ecological and technical advantages, wood has another strength: it creates a special atmosphere. \u201cYou can feel it as soon as you enter a wooden building,\u201d says Wiesner. \u201cIt smells different, the acoustics are more pleasant, and the material has a calming effect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes it especially appealing for companies seeking to create modern work environments<\/strong> through high-quality office architecture. Studies show: people are more productive in spaces with natural materials. Wood supports well-being \u2013 a factor that can be crucial in the age of home office and return-to-office<\/strong> dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n