The TOPMAX floor table by Hünnebeck, used to quickly and efficiently form large slabs, is the star of the shell construction site for the new city hall, “Stadtforum Dresden”. Combined with the GASS alu bracing system, TOPMAX enabled the concrete workers to efficiently and safely construct the 8 m high ceilings over the two-storey open space facing the street.

The capital of the Saxon state is getting a new administration building: Right on the central Friedrichsplatz, just across the street from the old city hall, a new city hall is being built on one of the last empty lots in Dresden. Beginning in 2025, the new structure, with 33,500 m² of gross floor space, will house the departments “Urban Development, Construction, Traffic and Real Estate” and “Environment, Climate, Law and Order” as well as the economic development office. The consortium made up of Ed. Züblin AG and Dreßler Bau GmbH is building the nine-storey structure, consisting of two lower levels, the ground floor and six upper levels (five or which are office floors).

The consortium is cooperating closely with the Hünnebeck facility in nearby Nossen to find the best solution for the complex formwork tasks. The formwork experts on site developed a formwork and logistics concept designed specifically to allow construction to progress smoothly at this vast site in the middle of the city.

A program that crosses all product lines

The concept sounds like a stroll through the entire program that Hünnebeck by BrandSafway offers. In addition to the TOPMAX floor tables mentioned above (supply of 1700 m² on site), 250 m² of manually operated TOPEC modular slab formwork is also being used. It can be easily combined with TOPMAX to simply create mating surfaces and infills on site. The concrete workers form the strong beams, up to 1.68 m in height, using the classic TOPFLEX timber beam system, which is supported by the powerful and innovative ST 60 falsework system.

The new generation (G3) of the MANTO wall formwork, with a supply of about 1800 m² on site, is ideal for forming large areas and is used as wall formwork and side formwork for the beams. With tying that can be selected to meet specific needs – one-sided tying is primarily used at the site in Dresden –, the easy-to-use MANTO aligning panel clamp and ECOPLY plastic form sheeting, new and improved MANTO is not only easy to handle, it ensures a high-quality concrete surface. Hünnebeck also solved the problem of the the various curved walls on the lower levels: with RONDA, the radius-adjustable circular formwork.

Powerful and quick: TOPMAX floor tables

Consistent use of TOPMAX steel frame floor tables makes the construction site extremely efficient. Regardless of whether it is being used to build the underground garage, a normal ceiling height for the office storeys or an 8 m high open double storey: All of the slabs are formed with this table system. Depending on the height and thickness of the slabs, steel props (EUROPLUS) or the GASS alu bracing system are/is used to support the slabs – 180 cm x 540 cm or 240 cm x 540 cm – which are sheathed in 15 mm plastic form sheeting.

Quickly assembled: TOPMAX and GASS

The GASS system provides twice the benefits at the site in Dresden: quick and easy assembly of high formwork supports and the simplicity of being able to combine it with TOPMAX tables using the Multi Adapter. Erik Herschmann, the sales agent responsible for the site explains: “The GASS system really is easy to operate. It consists of only three basic components – the leg, extension leg and frame – all of which can be attached to any point along the leg without any special tools. It also has a high load capacity of up to 140 kN per post.” The concrete workers immediately got the hang of it and were able to form the tables quickly, confirms consortium manager Tino Zimmermann: “The uncomplicated formwork solutions save time and really helped us to finish the shell on time.”

ST 60 shoring towers: quick and safe erection

Another system on site in Dresden: the innovative ST 60 falsework system by Hünnebeck, with temporary side protection and a patented deck repositioning system. The quick and safe ST 60 towers can be found everywhere at the Dresden construction site where the combination of GASS and floor tables does not fit, e.g. in conjunction with the TOPFLEX timber beam system used to form beams. The concrete workers also use ST 60 structures to temporarily support stripped high slabs.

On schedule

The most complex shell elements of the new city hall in regard to formwork have been completed on time: the lower levels with underground garage, the spacious and open entrance area, the 6.50 m high rectangular outer props holding up the first upper level and the mezzanine. The consortium is currently working on the final technical challenge, a 20 m long bridge support composed of an interior truss and two exterior Vierendeel girders. This bridge will later span the two-level courtyard.

Construction of the remaining office storeys will require significantly less concrete. Tino Zimmermann: “The rest is pretty much standard, everything until now has been freestyle and has worked well. We are on schedule and will finish the shell as planned, in time for the roofing ceremony in October.”

Here you can get photos of the City Forum in Dresden