Together with representatives of the City of Fürth, iba AG celebrated the completion of the structural shell of its new office building on Gebhardtstraße with a traditional German topping-out ceremony. Built on the site of the former freight yard, the new office complex will offer approximately 6,000 square meters of usable space and accommodate around 160 employees.
“We used roughly 14,000 tons of concrete and 500 tons of structural steel for this project,” explains client and developer Horst Anhaus, highlighting the scale of the construction project. Total project costs are estimated at around 20 million euros. However, Anhaus particularly emphasized one aspect: “Our building will be completely energy self-sufficient. Four years ago, when I said I wanted to do without a gas connection, many people shook their heads. But we will generate our energy entirely in a sustainable way.”
The building combines 33 geothermal probes, heat pumps, and conventional photovoltaic systems with what Anhaus describes as a world-first innovation: “We are installing sun-tracking photovoltaic panels inside the windows for shading purposes. With this in-house development, which is currently patent-pending, we generate an additional 180 kWp of electrical power on top of the conventional rooftop PV systems. Together, the ‘iba power plant’ at Gebhardtstraße 10 and 12 will achieve an impressive total output of 300 kWp and significantly improve the photovoltaic ranking of the City of Fürth.”
From Run-Down District to Modern Office Environment
City representatives also praised both the innovative approach and the investment in the Fürth location. “From the city’s perspective, I can only say: chapeau for what you are creating here. This is truly outstanding for the entire City of Fürth and a clear sign pointing toward a bright future,” said Horst Müller, Head of Economic Affairs for the city.
According to Müller, Horst and Marta Anhaus had already taken on a pioneering role in shaping the “New Gebhardtstraße” with the neighboring building at Gebhardtstraße 10. The new building and its architectural design further reinforce this transformation. “When I think about what used to be here, it was anything but a showcase street. It was a neglected district full of clutter and scrap. Now more and more innovative buildings for modern workplaces are emerging,” Müller added.
In addition to office and laboratory spaces, the new building will feature extensive training and workshop areas as well as a sports hall. A special highlight awaits employees on the top floor: in-house chefs will prepare fresh meals daily, complemented by herbs grown in the company’s own rooftop herb garden. A spacious beer garden will provide an additional highlight in good weather.
