knippershelbig

Celebrating #25Years: As part of our anniversary series, we revisit Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, designed by Studio Fuksas. Opened in 2013, the project comprised the design and engineering of a 1,250 m-long, geometrically complex #structure with more than 60,000 individual façade panels. When planning began in 2008, parametric tools such as Grasshopper were still in their infancy, leading to the development of bespoke computational workflows. A custom #RhinoScript-based solution enabled the largely automated generation of both the structural framework and façade geometry. A dedicated panel layout defined key parameters such as glazing ratios and installation angles. Based on this, the script extracted all nodal coordinates and exported them to Excel for further processing. These datasets were then used to generate Rhino surface models for visual verification and simulation workflows. Thanks for the great teamwork! We fondly remember the collaborative meetings in Rome, Stuttgart, and Shenzhen. Project: Shenzhen Bao‘an International Airport Architect: Studio Fuksas Structural engineering: knippershelbig Facade engineering: knippershelbig Images: Fuksas (1,13), knippershelbig (2-12) #insights #khnews

Celebrating #25Years: As part of our anniversary series, we revisit the #Jübergtower in Hemer. In collaboration with Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten, we designed and realized this 23.5 m-high #observationtower for the State Garden Show Hemer 2010 within an exceptionally short planning and construction period of just nine months. The Jüberg tower is conceived as a #hyperboloid #structure, formed by 240 slender, straight #timber laths arranged in two intersecting directions, and complemented by five steel platforms. The project’s particular appeal lies in the synthesis of structural logic and spatial perception: as loads decrease towards the top, the hyperbolic lattice shell gradually becomes more open, enhancing both transparency and lightness. On-site #assembly was completed in just six weeks. This highly ambitious schedule was made possible through outstanding collaboration among all project partners and a high degree of #prefabrication. A big thank you to all partners who made this project possible. Not one of our largest projects, but given the circumstances, it remains a truly special one to us. Project: Jübergturm Client: Stiftung der Sparkasse Hemer Architect: Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten Structural engineering: knippershelbig Collaborators: müllerblaustein HolzBauWerke GmbH, Holzleimbau Wiedmann, Magg Metallbau   Images: Christian Richters (1,3,7-9,11), knippershelbig (2,4-6,10) #khnews

Celebrating #25Years: As part of our anniversary series, we revisit the #ExpoAxis in Shanghai, designed by SBA Architektur und Städtebau.   The almost 1 km long and 100 m wide #structure served as the main entrance to the World Expo 2010 and still spans the former exhibition grounds to the Huangpu River.   knippershelbig joined the project in 2006 to develop the structural system. Early design changes transformed the initial glass roof into a wide-spanning textile #roof combined with glazed grid structures.   The #formfinding process was driven by complex geometric constraints on site and high wind loads due to typhoons. Extensive wind tunnel testing and large-scale mock-ups, including a 20 m roof segment, were used to analyse structural behaviour, validate critical details and simulate failure scenarios.   Once the overall geometry and key structural details had been developed and validated through calculations and testing, the project was handed over to local teams in China and realised largely as designed.   The scale of the membrane pushed textile structures to new limits and the project shows what strong international collaboration can achieve. Many thanks to all project partners for this outstanding teamwork!   Client: Shanghai World EXPO Land Holding Co. Ltd., Shanghai Overall concept: SBA Architektur und Städtebau Membrane roof and sun valleys: knippershelbig Collaborators: 华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI, Scholze Consulting   Images: Thomas Ott (1,15-17), Wilfried Dechau (4-5,10,14), knippershelbig (2-3, 6-9,11-13)   #khnews

JOIN OUR TEAM: We are expanding our team in #NewYork and are looking for engineers (m/f/d) with a passion for innovative structural design. Interested in joining our international team – or know someone who would be a perfect fit? Apply now and learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_hDWrST We look forward to welcoming you! #jobopenings #khnews

Celebrating #25Years: To mark our anniversary, we will be looking back throughout April at our earliest projects, starting with the Peek & Cloppenburg department store in Cologne   In 2002, we were commissioned with the structural design of this highly complex building, designed by RPBW Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The façade structure was for many reasons an exceptional challenge. This included the complex geometry, the interaction between the façade and the concrete substructure, and particularly the novel and uncommon combination of structural materials: timber and glass.   Vertical oriented spaced laminated wooden trusses and horizontal steel tubes form together with diagonal steel cables an efficient load bearing grid shell. To do so, many structural details, especially the reversible connections between the timber trusses and the steel members had to be resolved for the first time.   Completed in 2005, the project remains one of our favourites, made possible through close interdisciplinary collaboration.   Thank you to everyone involved for the outstanding teamwork!     Client: Peek & Cloppenburg* Düsseldorf Architect: RPBW Renzo Piano Building Workshop Paris Structural Engineering/Façade: knippershelbig Façade Construction: Schmidlin AG Aesch/Würzburg Wooden Trusses: HESS TIMBER (Wohnwerk)   Images:   #timber #gridshell #khnews

INSIGHTS: This April, we’re celebrating #25Years of knippershelbig! What started in Stuttgart back in 2001 has grown into a journey full of exciting projects around the world. Along the way, we have collaborated across diverse interdisciplinary teams, advanced digital planning methods, and continuously pushed the boundaries of emission and resource efficient construction. We wouldn’t be here without the countless people who have been part of this journey. To our #colleagues past and present, our #projectpartners, #clients, and #collaborators: #ThankYou for initiating new ideas, discussing challenges, driving innovation forward, and bringing projects to life! To celebrate this milestone, we’ll be sharing a glimpse of some of our earliest projects and what day-to-day work life looked like back then throughout April. Stay tuned! Images: Current office life across our four locations #milestone #khnews

INSIGHTS: The film #CircularConstruction by the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector showcases pioneering circular projects from Baden-Württemberg. We are proud to be featured with two projects: Germany’s largest #circular #timber #parkingstructure in Wendlingen, and a school #refurbishment and #extension in Bönnigheim, where selected façade elements of the existing building have been carefully #reused. Both projects demonstrate that resource-efficient construction is already achievable through consistent circular design strategies. A sincere thank you to all project partners driving this #transformation forward together with us, and to the Ministerium für Umwelt, Klima und Energiewirtschaft Baden-Württemberg for recognizing the importance of circular construction and giving it the visibility it deserves. The film is available online – link in the comments.   Project 1: Schulerweiterung Bönnigheim Architect: herrmann+bosch architekten Structural Engineering: knippershelbig Collaborators: Bauer Holzbau, LIGNOTREND Produktions GmbH Project 2: Holzparkhaus Schwanenweg, Wendlingen Client: City of Wendlingen am Neckar Architect: herrmann+bosch architekten Structural engineering: knippershelbig Collaborators: Planstatt Senner, Internationale Bauausstellung 2027 StadtRegion Stuttgart (IBA’27), PLETSCHACHER HOLZBAU, dieholzbox, SHERPA Connection Systems GmbH Images: Video (1-2), knippershelbig (3,6,9-11), BauerHolzbau_RouvenKöhnen (4-5), Roland Halbe (7-8) #khnews

PROJECT: We are happy to share the first pictures of the #walkable #cross atop the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Together with Josef Gartner, we had the privilege of working on the 17-metre-high and 13-metre-wide cross, constructed from stainless steel, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), and glass. #structuralengineering #cross #sagradafamilia

PROJECT: We are pleased to share insights into the Franklin Steg, currently the world’s largest #integral #timber #bridge. Opened in February, the 45-metre-long pedestrian and cycle bridge connects the Vogelstang and Franklin districts across the B38. The design builds on the Stuttgart #integral #timberbridge concept, featuring a hybrid timber, steel, and carbon-reinforced concrete structure with renewable timber forming the primary load-bearing structure. The superstructure consists of two block-glued twin girders connected by steel U-frames, while the four-part ramp (helix) is formed from doubly curved glulam elements and is rigidly connected to the abutments and supports. We thank all project partners for their excellent collaboration. Project: 'Franklin Steg', Mannheim Client: MWS Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH Design: knippershelbig + DKFS Architects Collaborators: Schmees und Lühn Holz- und Stahlingenieurbau, GROSSMANN Bau, Albert Amos GmbH & Co. KG, GRUBER Logistics   Images: Erkan Sezer Photoghraphy (1-2,9-12), knippershelbig (3-7), Gruber Logistics, taken at Schmees & Lühn (8) #khnews

LECTURE: Join Roman Schieber at Zak World of Façades - United States edition on 19th March 2026 in Washington DC. Zak World of Façades is a globally recognized conference series dedicated to façade design and engineering. The upcoming event, the 209th edition globally will showcase sustainable #innovations and #challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope, while presenting the latest technological solutions. In his lecture, Roman Schieber, together with Michelle Lee (BEHNISCH ARCHITEKTEN), will share insights into the #façadedesign and #engineering of the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology. We’re looking forward to engaging discussions and inspiring exchanges — see you in Washington DC! More information about the conference can be found via the link in the comments.   Image: knippershelbig #exchange #khnews