Eurofins, Niefern-Öschelbronn

Bright white walls, an anthracite-gray natural stone floor, orange accents on the counter and furniture, plus the blue of the sky and plenty of natural light: these elements define the open atmosphere in the new atrium of Eurofins near Pforzheim. This is a place where what belongs together can grow together. The company, which has been expanding for years, operates through its subsidiaries EcoChem and EcoTox GmbH in two adjacent buildings. 

These have now been united under a large glass roof. This has created a spacious communal area where the approximately 300 employees can meet. “Our goal is for our employees to feel they belong to one and the same company. So we designed the atrium as a space where people can meet during breaks, have lunch together, or enjoy a cup of coffee,” explains Ralph Kirchmaier, Managing Director of Eurofins Agroscience Services EcoChem GmbH. Here, people can gather in larger groups on solid wooden benches or meet in smaller groups at individual tables for two or four to chat.

The 40-meter-long communal space is flanked by a lightweight steel staircase with an open gallery. On the first and second floors, glass bridges span the seven-meter-wide atrium and connect the office levels. 

In terms of materials and color, industrial aesthetics blend seamlessly with modern elegance. Anyone experiencing the space today would hardly suspect that it was retrofitted between two existing buildings. The new atrium feels so natural in its dual role as a representative entrance area and the company’s identity-defining hub. The glass roof by INDU LIGHT, which spans the entire space, plays a key role in creating this impression. 

Unlike conventional industrial roofing, this is a customised solution that meets a wide range of requirements for functionality, technology, and aesthetics. With clear geometry and slender profiles, INDU LIGHT’s Skyline skylight system, inclined at a 30-degree angle, covers the 205-square-meter space between the two buildings. Through its proportions and construction, it creates an integrating force that transforms a covered courtyard into an attractive communal space.  White-painted aluminum profiles blend seamlessly with the white walls. A one-meter-wide metal frame along the long sides creates a formal break between the building and the glazing while simultaneously providing the structural foundation for the skylight system. The double-pane insulated glass meets the requirements for a modern, energy-efficient building.

A particularly ingenious feature is the ventilation and smoke extraction system in the atrium. What often looks like a separate array of machinery on the roof elsewhere is here seamlessly integrated into the continuous rooflight. This double-glazed smoke and heat exhaust ventilation unit from INDU LIGHT is called Draco-vent. The twelve SHEVs, installed in pairs and measuring 1.90 by 1.25 meters, provide a supply of fresh air while ensuring efficient smoke and heat exhaust in the event of a fire. They are designed as combination units, opening upward for smoke and heat exhaust and downward for ventilation. For ventilation, the units are opened electrically. Wind and rain sensors from INDU LIGHT ensure that the Draco-vents close automatically under appropriate weather conditions and return to their initial position as soon as the wind subsides or it stops raining or snowing.