Modern Infrastructure for a Future-Oriented Administrative Building
The Innovation Center CUBE17 is a new building constructed between 2021 and 2022 at the heart of the Bochum Health Campus. Serving as a central hub for companies in the healthcare and smart health sectors, the administrative building offers approximately 3,300 m² of space for research, development, and digital innovation.
The building’s architecture and technical equipment underline the ambition to create a highly modern and sustainable working environment. A key element of this concept is the heat pump system integrated into the administrative building, combining high energy efficiency with exceptional user comfort.
“With the (…) geothermal heat pump from WATERKOTTE, we have found a solution that not only delivers the highest level of comfort, but also meets the increasing demands for energy efficiency.”
Christoph von Prince, Real Estate Management Company Gesundheitscampus Bochum GmbH
Future-Proof Energy for Responsible Building Design
A central element of the energy concept at CUBE17 is its strong commitment to sustainability. The decision to install a heat pump in the administrative building sends a clear signal in favor of energy-efficient and resource-conscious construction.
By utilizing geothermal energy and intelligently combining active and passive temperature control, the building’s energy demand is significantly reduced. At the same time, the efficient mode of operation ensures substantially lower CO₂ emissions compared to conventional heating and cooling systems. As a result, the system makes an important contribution to achieving modern climate protection goals and serves as a flagship project for sustainable administrative buildings—combining ecological responsibility with innovative building technology.
Intelligent and Highly Efficient Energy Solution
For CUBE17, a high-performance geothermal system was implemented, enabling both active and passive heating and cooling. The overarching WATERKOTTE control system manages the installation according to demand, ensuring outstanding efficiency. A key feature is the flexible use of energy sources: depending on requirements, a cold storage system can be used instead of the ground—providing a major advantage for year-round operation.
Based on the heat pump principle, a low energy input generates double the benefit, as cooling capacity is created as a natural by-product of heat generation. With a heating capacity of approximately 120 kW and a cooling capacity of around 90 kW, the compact system delivers substantial energy output within a minimal footprint. Concrete core activation as well as separate heating and cooling distribution systems make optimal use of the generated energy, while the heat pump also supports the building’s ventilation system. Dual tandem units with four compressors per unit ensure ideal modulation in partial-load operation across eight compressor stages.
Future-Ready Technology for Modern Administrative Buildings
The heat pump installed in the administrative building demonstrates how versatile and powerful modern systems have become. It combines heating and cooling in a single solution—an essential added value for demanding office and administrative environments. In winter, the heat pump reliably provides thermal energy, while in summer it ensures a pleasantly tempered indoor climate. Its sustainable operating concept not only supports high energy efficiency, but also reduces long-term operating costs and CO₂ emissions. In this way, the heat pump makes a significant contribution to positioning CUBE17 as a forward-looking and resource-efficient building.
Ideal Conditions for Innovation and Smart Health
CUBE17 is home to companies shaping the future of the healthcare industry—from start-ups to established market leaders. The building’s technical infrastructure plays a central role in meeting these ambitions.
The efficient heat pump system creates an indoor climate that optimally supports creative, focused, and future-oriented work. Employees benefit from consistently comfortable temperatures throughout the year, while companies can rely on reliable, sustainable, and modern building technology. In this way, the heat pump makes a significant contribution to ensuring that the administrative building meets the high standards of the smart health sector.
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