As part of an extensive renovation and expansion, VEGA Grieshaber KG has been continuously modernizing its headquarters in Schiltach since 2020. With the active involvement of its employees, a variety of unique areas with individual spatial concepts have been created. All of them reflect the company’s high standards in design, functionality, and technical quality. A thoughtfully engineered ventilation concept with high-performance solutions from Kiefer Klimatechnik supports a healthy and comfortable working environment.

For more than 60 years and now in its third generation, VEGA has been developing sophisticated level and pressure measurement technology. The family-owned company employs around 2,600 people worldwide – about 1,200 of them at its headquarters in Schiltach. Situated on the outskirts of the picturesque half-timbered town and surrounded by idyllic nature, the company site covers an area of around 10,000 m². Since 2020, the production and administration buildings – some with up to five floors – have been gradually renovated, with two additional structures being added to the complex. The architectural design and planning of the extensive construction work were carried out by Architektur Schneider, based in Rohrdorf near Nagold.

What cannot be seen from the outside: the interior design concept impresses with remarkable aesthetic and functional diversity, far removed from anonymous working environments. The design and implementation were carried out by Partner AG from Offenburg. Simone Wörner, interior architect at Partner AG, explains: “What made this project so special was that we had the opportunity to highlight the individuality of the people in each area – their workflows and personalities – and translate these characteristics into the built space.”

This has resulted in a variety of distinct spatial concepts that nevertheless form a harmonious whole under one roof. For example, the Development division, located in the existing building, requires not only specialized electronic workstations but also dedicated workshops due to its strong technical orientation – complemented by flexible areas for agile work and communication. The theme of “agility” was creatively linked by employees to their hobbies in the mountains. The chosen material concept reflects this through dominant shades of blue and grey, the use of wood and stone, and clear, angular design elements. The International Sales department, on the other hand, envisioned a vibrant and lively workspace. The guiding theme of “nature” was interpreted in a colorful, international, and diverse way – with wood details and botanical accents creating a dynamic and welcoming atmosphere.

The new building at the company’s headquarters connects the two existing structures via a central reception area and houses not only new office spaces but also recreation areas for employees. The guiding idea behind the design was the company’s core competence: measurement – the art of capturing differences and contrasts. This concept was translated into a dual design language: warm versus cool, homely versus technical. “The warm side is represented by shades of orange, rounded shapes, and lighting with warm color temperatures to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere,” explains Wörner. “In contrast, the cool blue side is defined by linear elements and cold light fixtures. Technical materials such as expanded metal ceilings were used here, allowing the visible installations to shimmer through and creating a modern, technical ambiance. Open, multifunctional collaboration zones alternate with functional, technology-oriented areas.”

The client’s high expectations regarding functionality and design standards applied particularly to the technical refurbishment. The planning and implementation of the building services were carried out by the engineering firm Liepelt from Baiersbronn. “The main challenge of this project was that the available installation spaces in the existing building were in some areas extremely limited. This required a high degree of flexibility from everyone involved throughout the planning and implementation process,” explains Lazaros Delkoussis from Liepelt. For the ventilation design, the engineering firm teamed up with the experts from Kiefer Klimatechnik in Stuttgart – a collaboration that has already proven successful in previous projects. Norbert Hinderer, Sales Engineer at Kiefer Klimatechnik, confirms:
“Refurbishment projects like this often present special challenges for the design and implementation of ventilation systems, as changes to existing room structures are usually limited or not possible at all. Nevertheless, we succeeded in ensuring high indoor air quality across all work and recreation areas, precisely tailored to their individual requirements.”

In the numerous office and meeting rooms, INDUL linear diffusers from Kiefer were installed. The very slim diffuser profiles, with installation widths starting from just 15 mm, can be seamlessly adapted to any ceiling architecture. Whether discreetly integrated or used as a design feature, they blend harmoniously with the architectural concept. “For this project, the variety of INDUL configurations was particularly high,” explains Hinderer. “Depending on the building section and floor, different ceiling types were used – from plasterboard ceilings and hinged metal ceilings to expanded metal and open-grid ceilings with vertical acoustic baffles. In the areas with metal and open-grid ceilings, neck heights of up to 170 mm were required to avoid installation conflicts.” In the meeting rooms, continuous linear arrangements were used to visually define and separate different ceiling zones. Existing blank elements were utilized for targeted air extraction into the ceiling void. As a custom solution, several blind panels were provided with additional perforations to allow the suspension cables of pendant luminaires to pass through in an aesthetically unobtrusive way.

A distinctive feature of the INDUL linear diffuser is its specially developed discharge geometry, which generates exceptionally fine individual air jets. These ensure rapid induction – the mixing of supply air with room air – allowing temperature differences of up to –14 K to be quickly balanced out. As a result, INDUL achieves an exceptionally uniform air distribution with a pleasantly diffuse airflow and no perceptible draughts – a key factor for a comfortable working environment. Precisely formed edges prevent the so-called Coanda effect – the accumulation of dust along outlet surfaces – keeping ceilings and walls cleaner for longer and maintaining the system’s aesthetic appearance over time.

In the building’s large open areas – such as the restaurant and espresso bar – where many people and additional heat loads from catering equipment create a high air exchange demand, Kiefer’s climate experts installed the INDUDRALL ceiling diffuser. Specially developed for comfort applications, it is particularly suitable for challenging room conditions. Visually appealing in design, the ceiling air diffuser discharges the air in a fan-shaped pattern from the front plate. The grouped blocks of individual elements form bundled air jets that ensure optimum air induction and enable large temperature differences of up to –12 K between supply and room air to be balanced quickly – without creating any unpleasant draughts. Thanks to this very high induction rate, the INDUDRALL can also be installed visibly, without a suspended ceiling, while maintaining full comfort levels.