New construction of the Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University

Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics – Goethe University Frankfurt

The Landesbetrieb Bau und Immobilien Hessen (LBIH) and Goethe University Frankfurt are continuing the development of the Riedberg science campus with the construction of the new building for the Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics. The new building forms the final component of the campus and brings together the facilities previously distributed across the Bockenheim campus.

The striking structure forms the northern entrance to the Riedberg campus and acts as an architectural gateway to "Science City Riedberg". The institute building comprises four above-ground and two underground storeys with a gross volume of around 45,000 m³ and a gross floor area of around 20,000 m². Offices, seminar rooms, lecture halls, communication zones and communal areas are accommodated on a usable area of around 8,700 m². The clear building structure with a central access axis and four green inner courtyards creates bright, open working areas and promotes interdisciplinary exchange between students, teaching staff and researchers.

Our scope of services includes all earthworks and shoring work, the construction of the foundation pipes, masonry and concrete work, waterproofing work and the installation of composite structures. A special feature is the approximately 14,000 m² of SB3 exposed concrete surfaces with a slightly absorbent wooden formwork skin, which give the building its striking entrance design. The four stairwells and the wall areas of the up to three-storey lecture theatres were also constructed entirely in SB3 quality. Thanks to in-house formwork planning, it was possible to achieve a precise formwork pattern despite complex storey offsets and varying ceiling heights.

The excavation pit for the two basement levels was constructed in the densely built-up urban area using embankment and Berlin shoring. The high groundwater level and the planned modern technology in the basement rooms – including the computer center, robot laboratories and archives - placed high demands on planning and execution.

In the shell construction, 8,200 m² of hollow planks with partial concrete core activation were installed for energy-efficient air conditioning of the building. The interlocking hollow planks, composite columns and Deltabeam systems were installed smoothly using two building construction cranes thanks to forward-looking factory and installation planning. The production and concreting of the steel composite columns and ensuring the surface quality posed particular challenges. Optimised planning of the precast staircase components and the 90 m long steel composite girder system meant that additional mobile cranes were not required at all.

Parallel to the shell construction work, the infrastructural development was carried out – including service water cistern, connection to the service and rainwater network and empty conduit systems for the university's own fiber optic network.

With the planned completion in 2027, Goethe University Frankfurt will have a modern research and teaching infrastructure that impresses with its technical precision, architectural clarity and sustainable construction. The new institute building will strengthen the Riedberg campus as an important scientific location in the region and make an important contribution to the further development of the university's infrastructure.

Certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB)

Ed. Züblin AG is pursuing several goals with this project: A sustainable construction site organisation, the conservation of resources as well as the minimisation of emissions, responsibility for the health and well-being of the builders, the cultivation of good neighbourliness and, of course, high-quality construction. For this, Ed. Züblin AG was the first company to be recognised by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Here you can find more information about the DGNB system for sustainable construction sites: https://www.dgnb.de/en/certification/buildings/construction-site

Selected measures in the project