NKT test hall Cologne
New construction of a test hall for high-voltage cables
The Cologne-Flittard Chempark receives a highly functional industrial building. A test hall with a Faraday cage and a room height of 20 meters.
Against the backdrop of the transformation of the energy system, NKT is expanding its capacities for the production of high-voltage direct current cables. These are a key technology for the energy transition, as they transport renewable energy over long distances from the point of generation to the consumer with low losses. With the new test hall at the Cologne site, the company is creating space for quality assurance in the manufacturing process.
NKT’s test hall at the Cologne-Flittard site was designed for the highly specialized testing of high-voltage cables. The hall is equipped with test coils via a large door system, which are fed directly from the adjacent production area. The outdoor area serves as a functional movement and preparation area in the immediate vicinity of the cutting center. A Faraday cage is built into the hall. This enables controlled test conditions for high-voltage tests. The clear height of the hall of around 20 meters allows the use of two heavy-duty crane tracks. The floor area is designed to be suitable for air cushions and contributes to the flexibility of internal logistics. Directly adjacent to the hall is a three-storey office wing with control rooms, meeting areas and offices. The supporting structure allows for a later vertical extension of up to three further storeys. The architectural design of the building follows the industrial logic: restrained choice of materials, robust detailed solutions, clear façade structure and recognizability within the factory premises.
The NKT test hall is an example of highly specialized industrial architecture. As general planners, we accompanied the design process from the concept phase through to implementation planning with a view to technological precision, logistical processes and future expandability. Under complex conditions, we were able to develop an economically, functionally and creatively consistent solution together with partners from industry, technology and planning.
Client
NKT GmbH & Co. KG
Planning and implementation
2020-2022
Service
General planning, object planning LPH 1-4, LPH 5 Lead details
Photo credit: Stefan Schilling