Envision a building that produces more energy than it consumes. That’s the Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A. This isn’t just a town hall. It is a testament to Freiburg’s commitment to sustainability.
Welcome to the Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A. It is located at Fehrenbachallee 12. This municipal administrative center stands as Europe’s largest public Net Zero Energy building. Its architecture reflects its purpose. The innovative facade features a mix of wood glass and photovoltaic elements. These elements work together across the entire surface to generate energy.
But how did this all come about? In 2012 the city council decided to build a new town hall. It was to be on the site of the Technical Town Hall. The plan was to consolidate many city offices previously scattered throughout Freiburg. The new complex would be built in three stages. The name chosen for this new facility was Rathaus im Stühlinger. Even the name of the city train stop was changed to reflect this.
The architectural competition was won by Christoph Ingenhoven. Construction began in 2014. Just nine months after the foundation stone was laid, the topping-out ceremony was held in late 2016.
However, the project faced delays. There were technical and organizational problems. The completion was postponed by a year. Costs also increased beyond the initial budget. Despite these challenges, the first employees moved into the Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A in late July 2017.
Today about 840 employees work here. They come from sixteen different city locations. A daycare center is also part of the complex. The central entrance hall features a striking glass artwork. It is called “Limon” by artist Schirin Kretschmann. Since mid-February 2019 the building offers free Wi-Fi.
The Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A has received several awards. In 2018 it won the German Sustainability Award for Sustainable Building. It was called the first public building worldwide to generate more energy than it uses. In 2020, the German Solar Prize recognized it as Europe’s largest public Net Zero Energy building. This was confirmed by measurements from the Fraunhofer ISE. The building also received the Hugo Häring Award in 2020.
The Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A produces almost as much energy as it consumes. Only five percent of the energy cannot be generated locally.
Future expansion is planned. A second building is scheduled for completion in 2026. A third building will be shared by the city and the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.
The Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A is easily accessible. Tram lines 1 2 3 and 4 stop directly here. A Frelo bike-sharing station is also available.
The Rathaus im Stühlinger Gebäude A is more than just a building. It’s a symbol. It shows what Freiburg values: innovation sustainability and a commitment to the future. As you leave take a moment to appreciate the vision behind this remarkable place.