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2016 Sustainability Report
published 2017/08/01

Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

November 25, 2015 – We did it! The completely converted and sustainable company buildings at the headquarters in Tettnang are finished. With this remodeling, VAUDE has created the ideal conditions for innovative and future-oriented work at a cost of 7 million euros and 3,000 sqm of additional office space.

Working in harmony with nature

For our goal of creating a progressive, healthy work space for 500 employees, a modern office concept, ‘green’ campus, climbing wall, organic canteen and much more were incorporated. The brand values of VAUDE, a sustainable, innovative outdoor outfitter, can be experienced at the company premises.


Construction during ongoing operations

After the launch of the major renovation in November 2012, the whole company building was completely remodeled and refurbished concurrent with normal operations over two phases and a period of nearly three years.


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters
 
 

Future-oriented work environment

Natural wood, excellent lighting and an open-space concept characterize the new workplaces that are tailored to the needs of our employees. Modern open-plan offices with ample options for privacy, meeting rooms, communication areas and lounges were created. Each workplace is equipped with a high quality ergonomic, height adjustable desk, sophisticated lighting concepts and soundproofing measures.


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

Antje von Dewitz regarding the goals of the conversion measures:

»We wanted to create an optimal working environment that responds to individual professional and personal needs. The new premises foster communication, creativity and teamwork.«

In addition, special equipment based on each area’s needs was added, such as windows in the product development department made of true-color flint glass which facilitates the work of the clothing designers.


 
 

»It was a huge challenge to manage a remodeling project of these dimensions – without interrupting the workflow«

VAUDE CFO Erwin Gutensohn (also responsible for management of the construction)
 
 

Green campus - fully ecological

Where parking spaces and asphalt previously lined the path to the main entrance, a campus-like courtyard with sweeping green areas was created which was designed taking our biodiversity concept into consideration. The focal point of the courtyard is a 10-meter climbing wall; VAUDE’s many climbing enthusiasts have looked forward to this for a long time.


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

Right next to that, a large wooden patio invites you to a relaxed lunch outdoors. The parking spaces eliminated by the restructuring were deliberately not replaced; instead employees have been encouraged for years to engage in eco-friendly commuting, for example with company owned e-bikes or using a shuttle service.


 
 


»It was important to us to make the building sustainable. With ecological materials and energy-efficient solutions.«

Antje von Dewitz, VAUDE CEO
 
 

100 % organic, 100 % flavor – our organic canteen

Healthy working conditions include a good diet. “We decided to offer our employees healthy meal options, and quickly realized that we would either have to go all in, or not at all,” said Erwin Gutensohn. So VAUDE constructed an extensive canteen with a professional, fully equipped kitchen that prepares fresh organic food daily. The VAUDE canteen has official organic certification. Employees, external visitors and the children of the on-site childcare center can now enjoy pure organic meals daily. The ingredients are largely locally sourced from organic farms.

Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

The natural, hand-crafted wooden furniture creates a cozy atmosphere. “This is a lively central space for our company, where you can meet colleagues from other departments with whom you might not otherwise have any contact. With the company size that we have now reached, this is very important for good collaboration,” said Antje von Dewitz.


 
 

Sustainable Buildings

The entire remodeling was carried out in accordance with the strictest environmental criteria. The result is a ‘green building’ with DGNB-certification in which all aspects of sustainable building are realized, such as ecological construction materials and a maximally energy efficient building structure.


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

Examples of our ecological awareness can be found everywhere. For example, the carpets were made from recycled abandoned fishing nets that pose a grave danger for fish in our seas. For the wood patio, Walaba wood from Surinam was used that was salvaged from a reservoir which held large amounts of valuable wood that in the coming years would otherwise just rot and release climate harming methane.

 
 

Result:

»The new premises embody our VAUDE values very well. An open, inspirational working environment was created in which innovative and creative thinking can unfold – and all of it in harmony with nature. That is the best environment for fresh ideas in order to develop products for outdoors.«


(Antje von Dewitz)

 
 




How the VAUDE company headquarters looked before the conversion...




...during the various construction phases...




...in the conversion phase...




...and after the final inspection.

 
 

Facts & Figures

Summary of the most important company conversion information:
Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

Project: Revitalization of the company headquarters of Vaude Sport GmbH & Co. KG in Tettnang


Construction period: Jun 2013 to April 2014 (1st construction phase), completion mid 2015


Net building space: 9,3000 square meters


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters

Air conditioning:

  • combined heat and air conditioning equipment mounted on the ceilings 
  • windows for natural ventilation


Acoustic solutions: High performance absorbers on ceilings and walls

Office layouts:

  • before: Open-plan offices, departments mixed and distributed throughout the buildings, historically developed structures
  • after: Multi-space offices with open yet differentiated working structures based on job profiles. Short distances for communication and cooperative relationships.


Ergonomic approaches:

  • automatic height-adjustable tables 
  • adjustable monitor stands on all floors, organizational elements on the third working floor for direct access, shielding using screens 
  • specialized storage space for product development 
  • meeting rooms with different seating positions and seat heights


Lighting concepts:

  • Abundant natural light
  • Lighting concept with daylight control 
  • each workstation individually controlled LED floor lamps


Sustainable remodeling of the VAUDE Headquarters
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