© Brigida González
The challenge
With the organic sector growing—and no signs of the trend slowing down—the former headquarters of organic food company Alnatura was quickly approaching the limits of its expansion capacity.
Alnatura company headquarters on a former military site
A reinterpretation of military site conversion: from military site to communal eco-zone
The solution
Arcadis was instructed to identify and negotiate the acquisition of a suitable site in the densely populated Rhine-Main region.
The impact
Between 2015 and 2019, a Darmstadt site that was—until 2008—used as a base by the US military was restored to become the construction plot for the new Alnatura Campus.
28
sites
55,000 m²
total campus area
1,000 m³
capacity of the rainwater tanks
The challenge
With the organic sector growing—and no signs of the trend slowing down—the former headquarters of organic food company Alnatura was quickly approaching the limits of its expansion capacity. The company decided to construct new headquarters, and embarked on the search for a suitable site that would meet their location and infrastructure requirements while also reflecting the cultural principles of the organization. Arcadis was instructed to identify and negotiate the acquisition of a suitable site in the densely populated Rhine-Main region. The restoration of a brownfield former military site was identified as the most promising option.
The solution
With selection and site analysis prior to the acquisition of a suitable site, structured communication with the German Institute for Federal Real Estate and the authorities in Darmstadt, and the provision of expert technical advice on demolition, restoration, waste management and geotechnical engineering, Arcadis was able to pave the way for Alnatura to relocate to a fitting new German headquarters in South Hesse.
Both the location and the site itself were a perfect match for our requirements. We are pleased to be a part of the sustainable future of this former military site.
The impact
The new Alnatura Campus is a sustainable workplace for over 500 employees, complete with a kindergarten, restaurant and gardens across a total area of 55,000 m². Alongside the smart use of sustainable and recyclable construction materials, geothermal and photovoltaic installations, rainwater recovery and an earth channel to pre-warm air in the natural ventilation system all help to conserve resources. The project has been awarded a platinum DGNB certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council — proving just how much potential there is to optimize environmental performance, resource conservation and functionality during the site selection and building planning process.
