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lecture hall with a lot of students © Jürgen Huhn​/​TU Dortmund
For Students of TU Dortmund University

Building Services Laboratory Opens at Phoenix West Technology Park

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Four people are standing in front of a wall with a technical system consisting of various pipes. © Detlef Podehl
Opening of the new Building Services Laboratory with (from left) Professor Mike Gralla from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science, Professor Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University, and Jan Opländer, Managing Director of Louis Opländer GmbH.
A new Building Services Laboratory will enable students from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at TU Dortmund University to experience the latest technologies hands-on. The lab was inaugurated on June 20 in the presence of Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Ten companies in the sector are supporting the project and have donated a ventilation system and a heat pump, among other equipment. The lab, which covers 200 square meters, is located at the headquarters of a local company, Louis Opländer GmbH, at Phoenix West Technology Park.

At the opening ceremony, Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, underlined that the new laboratory is a symbol of the good collaboration between TU Dortmund University and local companies, between research and teaching on the one hand and business interests on the other. Professor Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University, explained what the laboratory might mean for potential spin-offs from the university and knowledge transfer from research to the private sector: “Perhaps some students will come up with ideas here that will benefit companies,” he said in his welcome address.

Jan Opländer, Managing Director of Louis Opländer GmbH and co-founder of the new laboratory, highlighted that the laboratory will make the increasingly important field of building services engineering a more practical, tangible and hands-on experience for students: “Today, building services engineering accounts for 28-35 percent of the total contract value of new buildings, and in the case of existing buildings it is even an impressive 50 percent.” The equipment sponsored by the companies includes a heat pump, a gas boiler, a ventilation system, pressure maintenance systems, measurement and control apparatus, and sanitary installations. The investment costs for the laboratory amount to around €500,000.

New laboratory strengthens “Dortmund model”

Other speakers at the lab’s inauguration were Professor Mike Gralla, Dean of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Professor Wolfgang Willems from the Chair of Building Physics and Building Services Engineering, and Angelina Pötz, the head of the new laboratory. The lab also strengthens the department’s “Dortmund model”, a unique approach where prospective architects and civil engineers have studied and trained together since the department was founded 50 years ago. In this way, the university aims to foster collaboration between the two disciplines from an early stage and to mirror everyday building practice as realistically as possible. It is important that students of both subjects are able to acquire practical knowledge of building services engineering, and it is here that the new laboratory will make a significant contribution.

A large number of students also attended the opening, and some of them had good reason to be pleased: To mark the lab’s inauguration, Louis Opländer GmbH awarded scholarships totaling €6,000 to five students. Alongside Louis Opländer GmbH, the sponsoring companies and cooperation partners also include Danfoss GmbH, Geberit International AG, Hilti Deutschland AG, Lindner Group KG, Priva Building Intelligence GmbH, Reflex Winkelmann GmbH, TROX GmbH, HEINZ TROX Foundation and Viessmann Climate Solutions SE.

Four people stand in front of a red ribbon. They all hold a pair of scissors in their hands and cut the ribbon at the same time.
The laboratory was officially inaugurated by Professor Mike Gralla, the university’s president Professor Manfred Bayer, Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science, and Jan Opländer (from left).
Three people on a stage with a white background. One man is giving a speech. Various logos can be seen on the white background.
Jan Opländer (center) and Professor Mike Gralla (left) welcomed the guests. WDR2 radio presenter Johanna Horn emceed the event.
Three people stand on a stage around a high table.
Professor Wolfgang Willems from the Chair of Building Physics and Building Services Engineering and Angelina Pötz (left), the head of the new laboratory, also spoke to the guests.
A group of people. Several students hold a certificate in their hands.
Five students were delighted to receive scholarships totaling €6,000 from Louis Opländer GmbH.

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