Villingen-Schwenningen, 10/01/2013

Dutch civil servants work with efficient, high-quality light
LED task luminaire MINELA from Waldmann lights up office desks 

Refreshing originality and organic design characterize the entire architecture of one of the largest sustainable office buildings in Europe. On the outside, it displays a curved facade, nestled harmoniously in the surrounding greenery. On the inside, loud, trendy colors and a modern, almost playful design leap into the eyes of the beholder. The technical furnishings meet the highest standards of comfort and efficiency. This is also true of the MINELA workplace luminaires from Waldmann. Anyone who visits the state revenue office or the student loan agency in the Dutch city of Groningen will find themself in a thoroughly unique and friendly atmosphere.

The complex – friendly and future oriented 
The new home of the two government agencies was to have nothing to do with the dusty, dreary clichés that many people associate with large office complexes, and in particular with government agencies. This goal was realized in a remarkable way by the architectural firm UNStudio of Amsterdam. The nearly 100-meter long office building has a spectacularly asymmetrical shape composed of two office towers – one twelve, the other 25 stories high. 
The building, which at first seems rather extravagant and fanciful, is actually quite practical and thought through down to the last detail. The curved shape of its facade resulted from exhaustive sun and wind studies. This particular feature integrates the entire building with its rounded corners and terraces organically into the adjoining city garden "Sterrenbos".
The breathtaking impression extends right into the inside of the building. A sustainable work environment was planned and implemented here in cooperation with the interior design firm Studio Linse in Amsterdam. Fewer materials, lower energy costs and lots of natural light were the ultimate goal.

The office environment – open and communicative
Instead of corridors ending in cul-de-sacs, there are many interesting, varied paths leading through the building. You could take a walk through the building without ever having to turn back, all the while with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. This openness permeates the entire architectural design and supports an altogether modern work environment. The civil servants working here have stylishly furnished communication and lounge areas as well as coffee corners and a canteen at their disposal – basically, they can work anywhere. Warm colors such as fuchsia and yellow sun extend throughout the entire interior design, while the workplaces themselves are kept in quiet, natural colors. The space efficiency of the offices was increased through desk sharing. There are nearly 2,300 ergonomically designed workplaces in the two government agencies. The lighting solution should be optimally integrated into the sophisticated office environment.

The task luminaire – efficient and ergonomic 
Thirty different task luminaires were put through their paces – in the end, the award- winning MINELA from Waldmann was selected. Its quality, design, ergonomics and efficiency yielded a coherent whole that fit perfectly into the project concept.
A 5-watt High Power Multichip LED illuminates each desk evenly over a large area without annoying shadows. Greater energy efficiency, longer life and lower heat generation are achieved through the high-quality electronic components and materials of the lamp head. The luminaire can be easily adapted to any individual visual requirement: the position can be changed with one hand, and the light intensity adjusted with a dim switch. Clean lines, a contrasting interplay between white and black as well as angular and elliptical shapes define its look and feel.
A special feature of MINELA is its auto-off function. This switches power off automatically after two hours of uninterrupted operation. Unnecessary energy consumption is thus avoided.

The project – sustainable and well thought-out 
The choice of lighting for the workplaces emphasizes the underlying life-cycle approach of the entire project: experts from all relevant areas were involved in the project right from the start in order to find the best, most cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution with a view to long-term building use.
The Dutch government is the owner of the building, which was created as a public-private partnership project – a private-public cooperation. In such cases the state is supported by private companies. A consortium called DUO² was established to carry out the financing, development and planning as well as operate the complex for the first 20 years. During this period it is to be used for public purposes. But it could be converted into private apartments later. For this reason, the building was laid out from the very start on a fine grid of 1.20 meters instead of the usual 1.80 meters for administrative buildings.

Project information:
Builder: Dutch government agency on behalf of DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) (Central registry and issuing body for university places) and Belastingdienst (revenue office)
Architect: UNStudio, Amsterdam
Interior designer: UN Studio together with Studio Linse, both in Amsterdam
Lighting designer:
Electrical engineering:
Electrical installation:

Lighting solution: Waldmann LED Task Luminaire MINELA

Photos:
1,2,4: © Ronald Tilleman
3: © Ewout Huibers

B1_ Impressive: The highly contoured facade of DUO Groningen. 
B2_ The task luminaire MINELA is extremely energy efficient. 
B3_ The office floors are completely open and flooded with light. 
B4_ Strong warm colors throughout the building create a pleasant atmosphere.

Engineer of Light – Herbert Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG
Herbert Waldmann GmbH is based in Villingen-Schwenningen and is a leading global manufacturer of lighting concepts. Waldmann’s lighting engineers develop lighting systems for the European, US American and Asian markets. The product range comprises lighting for the workplace in all industries and fields of application. One focus is placed on the fields of architecture, industry and medical phototherapy. Waldmann strives to create technological innovations: Whether the latest light management technologies for offices, medical lights that conform to standards or waterproof LED industrial lights for the toughest demands – more than 50 years of Waldmann know-how represent the continuous optimization of productivity, safety, health and energy savings. Herbert Waldmann GmbH is a brand of the Waldmann Group. Further information: www.waldmann.com.  

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Press contact for further questions:
Silke Weidenfeld, Press Officer Herbert Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG,
Peter-Henlein-Straße 5, 78056 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. Phone: +49 (0)7720 601-243. Fax: +49 (0)7720 601-290. Email: s.weidenfeld@waldmann.com