Symbol of Openness, Exchange and Interculturalism
Situated in the immediate vicinity of the BMW Museum and BMW Welt, the approximately 100-metre-high building consists of four vertical cylinders: Unlike other buildings, these do not stand on a fixed foundation, but are attached to a cross-shaped steel construction on the roof of the tower. The cloverleaf structure set standards in modern office architecture back in the 1970s, as all four circular office segments offer practical advantages on every floor: The special shape allows for short distances, optimum communication and office organisation between the individual departments, and variable room layout.
A Look at the History of the BMW Group
The BMW Four Cylinder is not only a milestone in the history of the BMW Group, but also a true landmark of the Bavarian capital, 50 years after its official opening on 18 May 1973. Today, on the occasion of the anniversary, Lindner looks back on the history of the 109-million-Deutschmark building: The first sod was turned in July 1970 with extensive excavation work on the former car park of the BMW plant. Barely 16 months later, the shell of the administration building was already impressive, with a complete façade and glazing, a well-advanced interior and inviting outdoor facilities and green areas. The Munich landmark has been a listed building since 1999, so the first major refurbishment of the office tower was due in 2004.
Complete Refurbishement of the Four Cylinder Building
The BMW Four Cylinder building was not spared the effects of monument protection and changing work requirements: In 2004, extensive renovation work began around the BMW high-rise building and the BMW Museum. The Lindner Group's Industrial Services and Pollutant Remediation division, in a consortium with Müssmann, was awarded the contract for the extensive demolition and gutting work. While the outward appearance of the building remained virtually unchanged, 150 Lindner employees worked on the site every day: Within a very short space of time, some 7,000 tonnes of asbestos, PCBs, mineral wool, walls, screeds, ceilings and metals were completely dismantled and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner – which required some 3,500 waste containers, sophisticated logistics and competent disposal partners. In order to adapt the building to the latest requirements, 25,000 m2 of metal chilled ceilings, various Lindner hollow and raised floors, other ceiling systems and glass partition walls were also installed in the office tower. Lindner also refurbished the side low-rise buildings and the "bowl" of the museum building and fitted them with special cladding.
Exclusive Quality Requirements
The BMW Group attached particular importance to quality and innovation in the modernisation of the building: Therefore, the Bavarian car manufacturer only commissioned certified companies to carry out the refurbishment of the BMW Tower, and carried out its own audits of the companies involved before the project began. For example, BMW's quality management team visited Lindner's headquarters in Arnstorf prior to the start of construction and examined the organisational structures as well as the specifically required environmental protection aspects. The Lindner Group was awarded the top mark of "fully satisfactory", thanks in part to the use of innovative and new recycling processes for old mineral wool and cost-saving packaging methods for sprayed asbestos.
