Cube One UTN Nürnberg

Innovative and sustainable with flexible usage possibilities, the six-storey office and administration building marks the urban planning start of the emerging University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN) campus. Cube One serves as an identity-defining statement and a preview of what is yet to come on the campus.

Located on the site of the former Südbahnhof, along Brunecker Strasse and in close proximity to the new Lichtenreuth residential area, the UTN campus is being developed across 37 hectares. The new Cube One building aligns with the master plan by architecture firm Ferdinand Heide, integrating seamlessly into the campus’s long-term development strategy. Positioned to allow phased westward expansion and to leave space for an additional building to the east, Cube One offers 4,270 m² of usable space, accommodating approximately 120 employees.

Sustainable prefabrication
Architecturally, this six-storey hybrid building meets passive house standards, merging sustainability with innovative design. Its structural framework combines timber construction with a stabilising core made of recycled concrete. Photovoltaic modules on the rooftop, a high-efficiency ventilation system with heat recovery and a timber façade featuring greenery in front round off the sustainable concept.
The project stands out for its high degree of prefabrication which posed a particular challenge when planning a passive house as a modular timber structure with stringent energy standards. To enable seamless production in the factory hall, all details, including transitions, had to be coordinated early and comprehensively across all disciplines, such as fire protection, building physics and HVAC systems. The floor slabs and exterior wall elements, pre-fitted with windows, sills, wooden façade cladding and all necessary sealing membranes, were delivered directly to the construction site for efficient, time- and cost-saving assembly.

Flexible and resource-saving
The modular construction ensures a high level of flexibility and adaptability. On each floor, individual team areas were planned as contiguous units with a total area of up to 200 m²; their spatial configuration can be changed as needed. Sanitary facilities, a lift and staircases are housed within the concrete circulation core. Two cleverly interlocking staircases optimise the use of space while providing separate, equivalent exits to the outside. This design eliminated the need for a separate escape staircase.
The transition from the solid concrete core to the lightweight timber structure ensures clear orientation inside the building: the concrete, finished in a muted, warm grey shade, contrasts visually with the bright white timber construction. A mix of open office spaces and flexible enclosed rooms, connected by glazed doors, facilitates visual interaction on the floors. Social spaces with communal kitchens at the building’s narrow ends encourage communication and create open meeting zones. On the top floor, two terraces with pergolas and a large meeting room offer views across the evolving university campus.

Green façade par excellence
The building’s internal structure is reflected externally through its timber façade, composed of alternating open and closed sections. Large, rhythmically arranged windows in horizontal format are arranged in regular rows on each floor. The load-bearing columns, emphasised visually by wider façade elements, accentuate the clean, structured façade design. A particular highlight is the nearly 18-metre-tall greening that cantilevers freely on two sides. A steel trellis system was meticulously affixed to the lightweight timber façade with state-of-the-art technology and utmost precision. Selecting the appropriate plants was equally challenging, as only a few species worldwide reach this height without direct contact with the ground. This façade greenery not only provides cooling and noise reduction in summer but also binds fine dust and enhances the microclimate.

A hallmark for the future university
The UTN building sets both architectural and ecological benchmarks by uniting sustainable construction with innovative usage concepts – laying the foundation for the campus’s future development. Designed to serve as a “distinctive hallmark” of the future university in Nuremberg, the building is already considered a showcase of the UTN campus architecture to come: sustainable, resource-efficient, flexible and elegant.