“The Elisabeth-Selbert-Haus for the Bundestag in Berlin is an important and challenging new construction project in many respects. It requires an array of varied expertise”, says Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR. “PORR can apply its broad range of services especially well here. We are delighted with the trust that the Institute for Federal Real Estate has placed in us”.
The building is named after the politician and lawyer Elisabeth Selbert, who is known as one of the four “Mothers of the Basic Law”. She successfully campaigned for the inclusion of equal rights for men and women in the German constitution, thereby making an important contribution to the history of German democracy.
The parliament building named after her on the corner of Unter den Linden and Schadowstraße will be completed by the end of 2026. With a gross floor area of around 13,000 m2, the Elisabeth-Selbert-Haus will house around 200 offices. The L-shaped new building is divided into six full storeys and a basement. The design by kleyer.koblitz.letzel.freivogel gesellschaft von architekten mbh envisages a spacious entrance foyer from which all office areas can be accessed via a sculpted spiral staircase. The main wing will have an interior with an open space spanning all the storeys and transforming the corridors into galleries.
Building in the historic centre of Berlin
The building project presents multiple challenges: It is located on one of Berlin’s most historic streets and so in the centre of parliamentary democracy. Surrounded by historic buildings and directly beside embassies, the project is not only demanding in terms of architecture. The cramped inner-city location, having listed buildings as neighbours, and a difficult building plot require a high degree of planning and construction expertise.
PORR Spezialtiefbau is responsible for securing the existing structure and planning and executing the excavation pit; PORR Hochbau Region Ost is carrying out the building construction; while sister company pde Integrale Planung is responsible for Building Information Modeling coordination. Andreas Kimling, Technical Regional Manager Hochbau Region Ost: “PORR impressed with its expertise and concrete proposals, in particular how the construction project could be improved and costs saved. Our comprehensive range of services extends from the design and planning to the realisation of the project and ensures that the client receives the best possible support in every phase”.
Sustainable building concept
The building concept is consistently geared towards sustainability and provides for renewable energy production from geothermal energy and photovoltaics. The goal is also to secure certification based on the criteria of the Assessment System for the Sustainable Construction of Federal Buildings (BNB). In order to create optimal conditions for this, PORR is using LEAN management and Building Information Modelling (BIM) methods for the design and construction. These enable a holistic, transparent visualisation of the project over its entire life cycle and promote fast decision-making processes, adherence to deadlines, cost transparency, and efficient cooperation. This creates security for everyone involved.
Facts and figures at a glance:
| Project type: | Building construction, specialist civil engineering |
| Scope of services: | Construction of the office and administrative building “Elisabeth-Selbert-Haus” as general contractor |
| Client: | Institute for Federal Real Estate (Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben) |
| Contractor: | PORR GmbH & Co. KGaA |
| Project duration: | 12/2023 to 12/2026 |
