Institute of Anthropology

For the new building of the Institute of Anthropology on the campus of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Werner Sobek was responsible for structural engineering, sustainability consulting and energy conception, among other things.

The two-storey solid construction has a fully developed attic. The basement with a floor height of 4.85 m is completely integrated into the building ground. The ground floor and upper floor each have a height of 3.65 m. Above the auditorium in the basement, the storeys above are supported by reinforced concrete wall panels spanning across the building.

High User Comfort with Low Operating Costs

To keep the building’s operating costs as low as possible, the building envelope and building services were optimised to such an extent that the building meets the requirements of a passive house. A life cycle cost calculation according to DGNB was able to prove that the thermal insulation and the associated increased production costs are already fully amortised after ten years. In addition, the entire roof surface was sealed with a PV film, which economically produces electricity for the building’s own needs and which also serves as a roof seal.

The project received an award for the 2013 Architecture Prize for Energy from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.