The Airbus plant in Hamburg-Finkenwerder wants to welcome its visitors in a new visitor center in the future. Economics Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) and representatives of Airbus and construction companies celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the "ElbAir" service center on Monday. In addition to office space and the actual visitor center, a hotel, restaurants and a supermarket are also to be built in the building complex.

According to architects Prasch Buken Partner, no fossil fuels are to be used to heat and cool the building, which covers more than 20,000 square meters. Instead, heat pumps should use the ground and the ambient air. The ground will serve as an energy store, into which waste heat from cooling and heat from the environment will be introduced in summer and withdrawn for heating in winter. The heat pumps could be operated with renewable electricity from a photovoltaic system. There will be a separate solar system for hot water. The facade will consist of aluminum composite panels.

"The ElbAir is of great importance for Hamburg," said Leonhard. It will strengthen the connection between Airbus and the Finkenwerder district. The building will also contribute to the fight against climate change. "The aviation industry as a whole has also undertaken to do this. Green flying - the first ideas are just emerging and are still tender plants," said the senator. That's why it's important that all local players make a commitment to the Airbus site. The ElbAir center is scheduled to be completed next year.

Architects on the ElbAir project