The Subtlety of the Sculpture
OMV Office Building
As the entrance structure to the refinery, the new office building with the dynamic, sculptural bridge structure is the new visiting card of OMV. Supplied with energy from OMV’s own steam network, the building also has an innovative, lifecycle-oriented energy concept.
The 13,000-m² headquarters at the OMV refinery in Schwechat are tailor-made to support the processes within the building and fully integrated into the local situation. The energy concept is based on the exhaust heat available on site in the form of steam that is used for heating and cooling. The realization of the building above existing structures ensures the even more ecological use of space.
Stacked office sculpture
With their architectural solution of the “stacked” office building, the design team reacted to the technical requirements and conditions on site by creating a floating element that spans an existing bunker complex. Four “boxes” merge to form a sculptural bridge structure that is partly supported by expressive concrete columns. This breaking down of the complex into a series of volumes enables the building to make a sculptural gesture around the quiet, exquisitely designed courtyard. This solution opens up a range of spatial situations and views while optimizing the lighting of the internal spaces.
The sloping concrete columns are not only essential for structural reasons. They have an aesthetic function and create a dominant and imposing entrance colonnade. With this hypostyle-like gesture they provide a setting for not only the representative forecourt of the building but also the entrance to the refinery.
Birgit Reiterer
Architect, Lead Project Manager in Vienna
Energy upcycling with steam
The supply of heating energy is guaranteed all year round via the steam network that is fed from the Schwechat refinery. This readily available energy is processed for further use by a steam transformer. This means that the building incurs no primary energy costs. Cooling also comes from the same source, with an absorption cooling machine transforming the steam into cooling energy. Exhaust heat is removed via heat exchangers in the form of a roof-mounted hybrid cooler that operates on the basis of a frostproof medium. One special feature of this energy supply is the temperature of the steam, given the fact that normal absorption cooling machines can be subject to maximum temperatures from around 150 °C. ATP addressed this issue by realizing a special safety circuit via a condensate return.
Flexible office landscape
The large spans of the building structure result in largely column-free and, hence, flexibly usable office areas. Most solid components and structurally essential elements are located in the facade. Each of the four volumes has different functional areas. The public and semi-public uses are arranged around the generous foyer. The upper-floor office areas are notable for their high levels of flexibility.
