TCK 2

The new construction TCK 2 (Technology Center 2) is a mixed-use building (office and test facilities) which is part of the Knorr-Bremse AG property located at Moosacherstrasse 80 north of the city of Munich. Knorr-Bremse is one of the largest manufacturers of hydraulic braking systems mainly for railways and commercial vehicles.

The building TCK 2 will be built in two phases i.e. first BA1 and then BA2; BA1 has achieved LEED New Construction v2009 Gold certification. The project has quite a few sustainability features, a handful of which are listed below.

- The use of waste heat for all the heating needs of the building

- Free cooling during the intermediate seasons

- Ground water as source for heating and cooling medium

- Protection of the local flora and fauna

- Design for inclusion and utilization of outdoor spaces beyond landscaping

- LED light fixtures on the entire site

- No new parking spaces for the building and no surface parking

- 100% renewable energy (purchased)

The local building codes in Germany as well as the building market promotes the use of a lot of sustainability and energy efficiency principles such as use of LED lighting, designing for flexibility, and efficient mechanical systems which are federal design best practices. For instance, the prescribed minimum construction U-values in the “Energieeinsparverordnung” (EnEV) 2009 are more stringent than those in ASHRAE 90.1 2007. The building is also designed to comply with the Category II occupant thermal comfort requirements of the DIN 15251 restricting the PPD to ± 10%. This eased the alignment of the already incorporated design principles with the LEED requirements.