An industrial facility in Raunheim underwent extensive structural assessment and reorganisation as part of a site consolidation programme. The existing structures — a combination of reinforced concrete and steel-framed buildings — were recalculated under loads imposed by new and replacement industrial equipment. Where the existing structure was insufficient or incompatible with the new equipment layout, new substructures were designed to interface between old and new.

The project also required the development of demolition concepts for structures and elements being removed from the site. Industrial demolition is structurally distinct from new-build: the sequence in which prestressed concrete and steel elements are disconnected directly governs the force state in remaining structure. Incorrect sequencing can cause progressive collapse. CN Europlan produced demolition concepts that specified the structural basis for safe deconstruction, together with provisions for proper handling of demolition waste.

Structural design was delivered from concept through developed design (LP1–LP4), providing the client with a complete design basis before construction contractor involvement

Key Takeaways

• Load recalculation of existing structure under new industrial loads: Before any new equipment is installed, the existing structure must be verified under the new load case. This is not a standard structural check — industrial equipment loads differ from building loads in distribution, dynamics, and fixity conditions.
• Substructure design for equipment support: New equipment cannot always be mounted to existing structure without adaptation. CN Europlan designed the intermediate steel and RC substructures that transferred equipment loads to the existing frame — the detail that determines whether equipment commissioning is on time.
• Demolition sequencing as structural engineering: Demolition concepts for structures containing prestressed concrete elements require full structural engineering input — the force release sequence must be calculated, not assumed.
• Concept through developed design (LP1–LP4): Delivering through LP4 gives the client a fully coordinated structural design basis for contractor pricing — reducing the gap between estimate and final cost.