KREBS+KIEFER win the Special Award “Building of the Year 2013 of the Magdeburg Architects and Engineer Association.

On 1 November 2014, the Special Award “Building of the Year 2013” was awarded to the engineering office KREBS+KIEFER Ingenieure GmbH in Darmstadt in a special ceremony for the Magedburg low water-lock in the Rothensee conjoining canal.

The low-water lock serves the purpose of facilitating the accessibility of the Magdeburg ports from the middle land canal (Mittellandkanal) and providing a minimum head of water inside the port, independent of the water level of the river Elbe.

To prove that the new lock was suitable for use in the deformation-sensitive subsoil, KREBS+KIEFER carried out complex FE calculations. A computer-aided investigation of the interaction between the load-bearing structure and subsoil confirmed that a flat foundation for the massive concrete structures would fulfil all requirements.

In connection with new geotechnical norms (EAU 2004), KREBS+KIEFER executed comparative analyses as part of its advanced planning according to the latest requirements, and implemented the resulting changes into the planning.

Designing a construction process which would enable shipping traffic on the canal to continue as normal during the construction phase, posed a particular challenge for the planners. As the main contractor, KREBS+KIEFER also coordinated the hydraulic steel structure and technical equipment, in addition to the design planning.

KREBS+KIEFER, also on behalf of N4 - would like to thank the Architect and Engineer Association for the award, which recognised our engineering performance with the award.