News
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On 4th December 2012, the imminent start of operations of the Katzenberg tunnel with the timetable change on 9th December was celebrated in advance with a symbolic opening ceremony. The significance of the Katzenberg tunnel and of this planning approval section was made clear in the speeches by the DB AG representative for the state of Baden-Württemberg, Mr. Eckart Fricke, the Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Bahn AG, Dr. Rüdiger Grube, the Federal Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Development, Dr. Peter Ramsauer, the Minister for Traffic and Infrastructure of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Mr. Winfried Hermann and the tunnel’s patron, retired parliamentary secretary Ms. Marion Capers-Merk. |
Arrival of Mr. Grube, Mr. Ramsauer and Mr. Hermann |
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4th December was a special day for the builders of this tunnel. They did not work on this day but instead held a celebration in honor of their patron saint, St. Barbara. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, since the tunnel tubes have already been driven over a length of more than 945 m. The rescue tunnel which runs parallel to them has also reached an impressive length of 845 m. Thanks to the protection of the tunnel’s patron saint, there have been no incidents during the driving process up to now. |
Celebration in the tunnel |
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On 22nd November 2012, the new student residence was officially handed over to its owners, Studentenwerk Potsdam. This means that the new accommodation directly on the campus of Technische Hochschule Wildau will be ready for around 100 students to move in at the beginning of the winter semester 2012/2013. |
Handover ceremony |
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As specialist advisers to HPP Architects, Düsseldorf, Krebs und Kiefer won a prize in the two-stage competition to improve the Messe Essen trade fair facilities. In addition to a first prize, two third prizes were awarded, one of these to the HPP general planning team. |
View of the eastern entrance (HPP Architekten) |
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Together with Munich-based architects HENN, landscape architects Nowak and other participants in the planning process, Krebs und Kiefer won the first prize in the competition to design a new culture and event building in Weikersheim. |
View of the culture and event building in Weikersheim |
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On 19th October 2012, as part of the German steel construction conference in Aachen, the German steel construction prize (Preis des Deutschen Stahlbaues) and the German steel construction prize for students (Förderpreis des Deutschen Stahlbaues) were awarded. The German steel construction prize for students of architecture and civil engineering (Förderpreis des Deutschen Stahlbaues) is awarded every two years in recognition of progressive ideas and solutions for steel structures in the areas of building and bridge construction. |
Visualization |
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Europe’s first trade fair for civil engineering and building conservation took place in Freiburg from 25th to 27th October 2012. Krebs und Kiefer was among over 150 international exhibitors on around 7.600 m² of exhibition space and was represented with a stand at which customers, business partners and other companies could obtain information about current projects, services and developments within the consultancy. During many informal conversations, contacts were made, specialist knowledge was exchanged and specific information was provided. |
Krebs und Kiefer stand |
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Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Günter Ernst celebrated his 65th birthday on 15th October 2012. He can look back with pride and satisfaction on a productive and successful career which now spans more than 40 years. |
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Günter Ernst |
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On 1st October 2012, Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Johmann was appointed Leading Engineer in the area of civil engineering at our Karlsruhe office. During his studies at Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Herr Johmann worked for several years as a research assistant in the institute for soil and rock mechanics. After completing his studies in 1998, he spent seven years working for Arcadis Consult GmbH as a project engineer in the geotechnology unit. His area of responsibility covered geotechnical consulting and planning in the areas of earthworks, subsoil improvement, deep foundations, construction pits, landslides, former mining sites and measuring technology. |
Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Johmann |
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With effect from 1st October 2012, Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Hewener was appointed authorized joint signatory. In this position, he will support the management team of Krebs und Kiefer, Beratende Ingenieure für das Bauwesen GmbH, Karlsruhe, in the areas of building construction and fire protection. |
Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Hewener |
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On 1st October 2012, a new Infrastructure Engineering course at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences starts. This course aims to meet the increasing need for infrastructure maintenance, especially in the construction industry. As the first lecturer for the new course of studies, Dr.-Ing. Jan Akkermann was appointed Professor for construction in existing contexts – building construction and civil engineering – focusing on infrastructure. |
Dr.-Ing. Jan Akkermann |
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One of the most remarkable projects currently being handled by KuK Berlin is the new ship lift in Niederfinow. Immediately adjacent to the existing lift, which was built in 1934 and has been a focus of interest for technology enthusiasts for many years, a new ship lift is being built for the new generation of motorized cargo ships. |
Passing through the old ship lift |
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A new administrative center is currently being built for Mercedes-Benz Sales Germany on the banks of the River Spree in Berlin. The jointless complex, which is being constructed as a “green building”, consists of a 13-floor tower and a comb-shaped administrative building with 6 floors. It is almost 100 m long and was designed by Berlin architects Gewers & Pudewill. |
Shell of the administrative building |
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Since the middle of this year, Krebs und Kiefer has been a member of IWSV (Ingenieurverband für Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung – association of engineers for waterways and navigation management), an association which is open to engineering consultancies and construction companies. IWSV represents the interests of engineers active in the areas of waterways, navigation and ports. |
Passing through a lock |
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On 29th August 2012, the cornerstone of the first new building on the former Degussa site between Untermainkai and Neue Mainzer Straße in Frankfurt took place in the presence of Frankfurt’s mayor and head of planning Olaf Cunitz, DIC chairman Ulrich Höller, the architect Jürgen Engel and the chairman of Union Investment. |
Laying of the cornerstone |
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The oldest ship lift which is still in operation, the ship lift at Niederfinow (built in 1934) is situated roughly halfway along the canal connecting the waterway hub at Berlin with the Baltic port of Stettin in Poland. It overcomes a height difference of 36 m and is currently being replaced by a new ship lift. When the new lift goes into operation, it will be capable of transporting a modern motorized cargo ship loaded with 104 standard shipping containers instead of only 27 as at present. The total project costs of around 285 million Euros are being financed by the German federal government and the European Union (50 million Euros of ERDF funding). |
View of the construction site from above |
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Working and protective scaffolding is used on every construction site and thus affects almost everyone involved in the construction process – especially when they find themselves standing on the scaffolding. Despite this, planners pay relatively little attention to the subject - partly because these temporary aids are felt to be irritating and relatively unimportant, partly because the construction methods used in scaffolding systems are believed to be very specialized and difficult to grasp. However, cases where damage occurs show that these constructions do in fact require the attention of structural designers. |
Scaffolding on the Alte Oper in Frankfurt am Main |
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The A 60 "Mainzer Ring" federal motorway was permanently opened for traffic on Friday 10th August 2012. Guests at the official celebration were welcomed by leading construction director Bernhard Knoop of LBM Worms; they included the Rheinland-Pfalz Minister for Internal Affairs, Sport and Infrastructure, Mr. Roger Lewentz, the Mayor of Mainz, Mr. Michael Ebling, the Mayor of Hechtsheim, Ms. Ursula Groden-Kranich and the Secretary of State of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Dr. Andreas Scheuer. |
Celebration at the new tunnel entrance |
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With the integration of Ingenieurbüro Rapsch und Schubert Stahlwasserbau Consulting GmbH (IRS), Würzburg, into the KuK group of companies, Krebs und Kiefer has further extended its range of services and increased its presence in Bavaria. |
KuK-IRS cooperation at the Three Gorges Dam in China |
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On 6th July 2012, the completion of the Unstruttal viaduct was celebrated in Karsdorf (Burgenlandkreis) in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt. After five and a half years of construction, the last section of the viaduct, which forms part of the new Erfurt – Leipzig/Halle railway line VDE 8.2, was finished. |
View from the western abutment towards the eastern abutment (Osterberg tunnel) |
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On Friday, 15th June 2012, the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG) held a topping-out celebration in the 243-year-old southern gatehouse of the Neue Palais in Potsdam. |
Welcome speech by SPSG |
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On 15th June, the topping-out celebration took place at the new Gymnasium (secondary school) in Stahnsdorf. Now that the sports hall is already being used, every effort is being made to complete the school building in time for the start of the 2013-2014 school year. |
Gymnasium |
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From 15th June 2012, 25 heavy load trucks started to deliver the prefabricated laminated beams and plywood panels for Germany’s largest wildlife crossing. It is currently being built in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg and with a length of 40 m, it will allow wildlife to cross the four-lane B 101 road. |
Slotting in the beams |
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On 24th May, Krebs und Kiefer Karlsruhe celebrated its 25th anniversary together with clients, business partners and friends. After a welcoming speeches by Dr.-Ing. Hans-Gerd Lindlar, chairman of the management board of Krebs und Kiefer & Partner GbR, and by Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Wulle, president of the Baden-Württemberg chamber of engineers, the jubilee certificate was presented by Mr. Gerd Stracke, vice-president of the Karlsruhe chamber of commerce. |
Mr. Gerd Strack presents the 25-year jubilee certificate |
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Under the Frankfurt Airport noise protection program, Krebs und Kiefer Beratende Ingenieure für das Bauwesen GmbH Darmstadt carries out the acoustic assessments required by persons affected by the noise and property owners in the area around the airport for submission to the Regional Council in Darmstadt. |
Noise protection program at Frankfurt Airport |
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On 21st May 2012, the Seltersberg biomedical research center (BFS), which forms part of Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, was officially opened. After the official opening by Prof. Mukherjee, president of the university, there were speeches by the Minister President of Hesse, Volker Bouffier, by the director of the Hesse construction management authority, Thomas Platte (representing the owner) and by Prof. John Ziebur, chairman of the board of BFS. |
View of the building |
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On 15th May 2012, the demolition work that started last year on the former Degussa site between Untermainkai and the Karmeliterkloster in Frankfurt am Main was officially completed. The staff of the planning consultancies involved were invited to demolish the last remaining parts of the complex themselves. |
Demolition work on Neue Mainzer Straße |
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After 16 months of construction, the new Zentrale Kunstdepot (central art storage building) in Freiburg im Breisgau was handed over to its users during an official ceremony on 3rd May 2012. The collections of the city museums, of various foundations and of the archdiocese - a total of 200.000 artworks with an estimated value of ca. 250 million EUR - will be stored in the new building which cost around 7 million EUR (including photovoltaic equipment). |
Exterior view |
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On 27th April 2012, all those involved in the planning and construction of the Technikum building in Dresden’s Nöthnitzer Straße gathered to celebrate the completion of the building shell. |
Speech |
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Concluding the joint conference of Germany’s two main scaffolding associations, Bundesinnung Gerüstbau and Güteschutzverband Stahlgerüstbau e.V., a podium discussion entitled "Talk im Gerüst" on the subject of standard design, instructions for construction and use took place on 28th April 2012. |
Participants at the scaffolding conference |
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The ground-breaking ceremony for the new chamber of the lock system at Brunsbüttel took place on 17th April 2012 in the presence of Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Peter Ramsauer, State Transport Minister Jost de Jager and Gesa Völkl, head of the Brunsbüttel water and navigation authority. The lock system is part of the Kiel Canal, which is said to be the most heavily used artificial waterway in the world. |
Ground-breaking |
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The management of Krebs und Kiefer Berlin is pleased to appoint this long-standing employee to the position of Leading Engineer and Head of Project Management and Tunnel Safety with effect from 1st April 2012. Dipl.-Ing. Frank Embert-Kreiser
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Dipl.-Ing. Frank Embert-Kreiser |
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Tishman Speyer Properties Deutschland GmbH took part in the Luminale 2012 lighting culture festival in Frankfurt am Main with a light show over the site of the TaunusTurm tower. "Lichtvision" developed a light object based on a concept by the Norwegian light designer Laura Bernadet. The object consists of a three-dimensional Y-shaped steel structure made of box profiles supporting C-profiles that project like wings, to which fluorescent tubes are fixed. |
Light object in a temporary structure on the ground |
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In the north of Frankfurt, the new residential district of Frankfurt-Riedberg is currently under construction; in the long term, it will provide living space and facilities for around 15.000 inhabitants. The construction of the second primary school in the district officially began with a ground-breaking ceremony on 27th March in the presence of Sarah Sorge, head of Frankfurt’s Education Department, and Friedhelm Flug, Managing Director of the urban development company HA Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. |
Ground-breaking ceremony |
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The management of Krebs und Kiefer Karlsruhe/Freiburg is pleased to appoint the following long-standing employees to the position of Leading Engineer with effect from 1st April 2012: |
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In cooperation with Knight Architects (UK), Krebs und Kiefer won a competition held by Stadtwerke Ulm for a new bridge for local public transport, pedestrians and cyclists. Two third prizes were also awarded. As part of the planned new tramline 2 in Ulm, the “city of science”, the local transport company SWU Verkehr GmbH held a realization competition with advance pre-qualification measures. |
Visualization: view of Ulm minster church |
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The opening ceremony for the fully redesigned Brentanopark and the two new bridges over the River Nidda took place on Friday 2nd March in the presence of Manuela Rottmann, head of Frankfurt’s Environment Department and Stefan Majer, head of the Traffic Department. With this event, the park was officially opened for use by the citizens of Frankfurt. |
Bridge over the Nidda |
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As part of a bypass for the town of Schriesheim, the 1.796 m long Branich tunnel is being built on the L 536 road. The tunnel will pass under the up to 280 m high Branich district north of Schriesheim with a cover height of up to 115 m. The tunnel, with two 3,5 m traffic lanes, emergency routes and margins, will have a clear width of 9,50 m and a clear height of 4,50 m. To meet tunnel safety requirements, four escape galleries are planned. |
Ceremony on 01.02.12 |
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Around halfway through the construction period, on 23rd January 2012, the cornerstone for the new buildings in Frankfurt’s historic city center was laid by the city’s Mayor, Dr. Petra Roth. The project has been the focus of much public interest. 250 guests from the worlds of politics, business and the media, including representatives of Krebs und Kiefer, were invited to the ceremony in the Archeological Garden between the Römer (city hall) and the Dom (cathedral). |
View from the site over Frankfurt's skyline |
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The foundation stone for Frankfurt’s 170 m high Taunusturm was laid on 18th January 2012 in the presence of City Mayor Dr. Petra Roth. This project is being realized on a 5.500 m² site on the corner of Taunustor and Neue Mainzer Straße by American developers Tishman-Speyer in cooperation with Commerzbank Real. The complex consists of a 40-floor office tower and an 18-floor residential tower linked by a 6-floor podium. Its four underground levels will mostly be used for parking. |
Before the ceremony |
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For all of us in the management team and staff of Krebs und Kiefer Beratende Ingenieure für das Bauwesen GmbH, it is a great pleasure to celebrate the 80th birthday of our company founder and senior partner, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Albertus Krebs today, 12th January 2012. His impressive career is closely linked with the foundation and development of our consultancy. Prof. Krebs studied civil engineering at Technische Hochschule Darmstadt from 1950 to 1955. He then became one of the first staff members of a private engineering consultancy owned by his teacher, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alfred Mehmel, Germany’s most prominent bridge expert in the post-war period. In 1962 Prof. Krebs completed his doctorate with a dissertation on annular slabs. |
Prof. Krebs during his speech at the company’s 60th anniver-sary celebration |
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With the appointment of Dipl.-Ing. Roger Istel as Checking Engineer for structural stability in the field of metal construction by the District President in Darmstadt in January 2012, our Darmstadt office has further expanded its team of checking engineers, as have our offices in Berlin and Erfurt. Because of his outstanding performance, especially in the areas of building and steel construction, Mr. Istel was also appointed Managing Partner on 1st January 2012 and will combine this role with his activities as a checking engineer in Darmstadt. |
Dipl.-Ing. Roger Istel |
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After passing the examination, Dr.-Ing. M.Sc. Ralf Gastmeyer was appointed Checking Engineer for structural stability in the field of concrete construction by the Berlin senate’s department for urban development in October 2011. From 1st January 2012, he will be working in our office in Berlin as a checking engineer and managing partner. Dr. Gastmeyer completed his undergraduate studies in civil engineering at the University of Hanover and his master’s degree in historic monument preservation at Technische Universität Berlin. He then did a doctorate at Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, his dissertation being on the subject of the load-bearing behavior of reinforced concrete slabs supported at separate points with openings in the bearing area. |
Dr.-Ing. M.Sc. Ralf Gastmeyer |















