About

The beating heart of the city administration – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Munich’s New Town Hall is a major attraction for many visitors to the city. Completed in neo-Gothic style in 1905, it is the seat of the mayor, the city council and the city administration. With the Law Library, it houses one of the most beautiful libraries in Munich. Other attractions include the “Glockenspiel” (carillon), the famous balcony and the Ratskeller restaurant in the basement, with its six cross vaults and frescoes. Over 600 people work in 400 rooms behind the historic façade of the New Town Hall.

Architect: bharchitekten, Munich
Project manager: Claudia Peschel; deputy project manager: Michaela Kraft
Project partner: Holzbau Schmid GmbH & Co. KG, Adelberg, www.hoba.de (dormakaba partner)
Official website:

Challenges

How can we blend heritage protection with modern fire safety in an aesthetically pleasing way?

Modern fire protection solutions for the entire building
Replacement of the all-glass elements in coordination with the monument preservation authorities

"With our core expertise in timber construction, we are constantly setting new standards in fire protection with our innovative system solutions, including new designs and an array of layout options."

Christian Schmid

Managing director Holzbau Schmid

Details

Custom fire protection in old buildings while protecting historical architecture

Renovation during ongoing operations

The ever-increasing visitor footfall and the growing demands for modern fire protection on the part of the property insurer prompted a rethink of the fire protection concept. Adelberg-based company HOBA – Holzbau Schmid GmbH & Co. KG, a dormakaba Executive Solution Partner for door technology, was commissioned to carry out the work. HOBA doors and glazing are safety-critical components for fire protection purposes and usually meet additional functional requirements. The fire protection upgrade of the property and the need to carry out the work while the building was in use called for considerable planning flexibility at HOBA.

Varied building structures: a stimulating opportunity and a challenge

The solution had to address a wide variety of wall types, including sandstone, rubble masonry and historic brick. Ultimately, HOBA managed to resolve even the trickiest installation conditions in close cooperation with its long-standing partner, the Pettmesser joinery in Oberhausen, Upper Bavaria.

Fire protection solutions to meet exacting requirements

To implement this major project, the decision was made to use 50 HOBA fire and smoke protection doors, which meet a wide range of requirements and provide safety, functionality, material quality, convenience and excellent design. A number of different dormakaba door components were used, including ED 250 automatic operators, TS 93 EMR door closers in the Contur design, ITS 96 integrated door closers and BTS 80 F floor springs.