In April 2025, Equinix moved into a new office and training centre in the north of Frankfurt. The three-storey, 3,200m² building was built using a timber hybrid construction method due to its sustainability and special aesthetics.

The German subsidiary of global digital infrastructure provider Equinix operates eleven state-of-the-art data centres at several locations in Germany. The company has now expanded its Frankfurt site with a new office and training centre to provide targeted support for IT experts and trainees.

The new building closes off the data centre campus between Friesstrasse and Kruppstrasse to the north and thus mediates between the small-scale residential development in the surrounding area and the relatively large-volume data centres. In contrast to the closed facades of the latter, the office and training centre is inviting, open and transparent.

As general planner, Arup was responsible for all architectural and engineering services throughout all phases of the project, from master planning and concept development to the realisation and handover of the overall project.

A good neighbour

Dialogue with the neighbourhood was sought at an early stage as part of the overall master plan. Their wishes for openly accessible areas, high-quality street greenery and the location of car parks were taken on board and implemented.

Another result of these consultations are the extensive greening measures at the data centres and the wide public green strips between the pavement and fencing. The quality of life along the campus has been significantly enhanced over the past few years.

Materiality meets user comfort

The timber-concrete hybrid construction of the building reduced the CO2 footprint during construction by around 25 per cent compared to conventional construction methods and thus makes a significant contribution to sustainability. The wood deliberately remains visible in the interior and characterises the warm, natural atmosphere, which is perceived as particularly pleasant by the employees. On the outside, a rear-ventilated metal façade reliably protects the building.

The architecture is flexible and future-orientated: Modular rooms can be adapted to different utilisation requirements, be it concentrated work or interactive training. Balconies and a spacious roof terrace with a view of the Frankfurt skyline offer additional quality of stay.

During the planning phase, Arup placed particular emphasis on holistically combining functionality, design quality and sustainability.

Aerial view of a city.
Aerial view of a city.

The new building forms the northern end of the data centre campus and creates a link between the small-scale residential development and the large-volume data centres. All images: © Equinix (Germany) GmbH

A street with cars and buildings.
A street with cars and buildings.

Open, transparent and inviting - the office and training centre provides a clear contrast to the closed facades of the data centres.

A building with many windows.
A building with many windows.

The three-storey building with an area of 3,200 m² was built using a timber hybrid construction method.

A building with many windows.
A building with many windows.

Compared to conventional construction methods, the building with its timber-concrete hybrid construction reduced the CO₂ footprint during construction by around 25 per cent.

A person walking in an office.
A person walking in an office.

The new office and training building is proving very popular. Many employees are once again spending more time in the office than working from home.

A group of tables and chairs on a deck.
A group of tables and chairs on a deck.

The waste heat from the neighbouring data centre is used for heating and hot water.

A deck with tables and chairs.
A deck with tables and chairs.

Balconies and a spacious roof terrace offer additional quality of stay.

Waste heat as an energy source

Using the waste heat from the neighbouring data centre for heating and hot water was a matter of course for the client and planners. As this only occurs at a relatively low temperature, the building is heated via panel heating on the ceilings, with the advantage of a cosy indoor climate without any noticeable air movement.

A photovoltaic system on the roof helps to cover local electricity requirements using renewable energy. The rainwater from the roof and traffic areas is channelled into a retention basin via an underground pipe system and flows into the municipal combined sewer at a reduced rate together with the wastewater.

Enthusiastic users

The new office and training building has been received with great enthusiasm by employees. Feedback on the new administration building has been consistently positive: The available workstations are almost always fully booked, employees enjoy coming to their new office and are once again spending more time in the office than working from home.

The building is a successful example of how holistic planning, technological innovation and social responsibility can merge into a coherent overall concept.