Offenbach is getting a new high-rise building called Namu on the Nordkap site. Since the Expo Real in the fall of 2022, it is also clear that it will be a timber hybrid and will have a facade with photovoltaic elements. Now there is more information from the architect Eike Becker from Berlin.

The columns and beams of the new high-rise building will be made of timber, of so-called laminated timber beams. This is a technically very innovative material, which represents an improvement over conventional wood in terms of fire technology and statics. The timber elements to be installed are glued together at high temperatures and pressures in such a way that they are thermally more stable and have better building material properties in many respects.

Like the stairwells, the elevator shafts and the underground parking garage, the intermediate ceilings of the Namu will be made of reinforced concrete. Despite this, it was possible to significantly reduce the proportion of concrete in the design compared with conventional buildings.

Through the glass portion of the facade, you will see that the building is built to a significant extent of timber. The timber supports are up to 80 x 80 centimeters thick in the lower area. The facade itself must be made entirely of non-combustible, weather-resistant material.

Inside the Namu, the timber elements will provide a special quality of stay. The material is said to have a calming effect on the cardiovascular system, according to experts. Many project developers and companies expect a clear image advantage from this construction method. In the competition for the best workers, an office in timber construction could prove to be a decisive advantage in the future.

The location of the new high-rise building on the Nordkap site is characterized by its unobstructed location on the Main. Clearly visible along the highway, the 124-meter-high Namu with a gross floor area of 60,000 square meters will clearly shape the urban development on the banks of the Main. The project is expected to be completed in 2027. The two project developers Ernst Otto Walker and Christoph Bürkel are planning a total investment of 300 million Euros. Leasing is currently underway, and the project developers are planning an anchor tenant who intends to occupy at least 30,000 square meters.