Modern research in modern dress

Experimental hall for lighting research clad with façades made from Novelis ff2® pre-painted aluminum

Behind the colorful façade of the PETRA III experimental hall, located in Hamburg’s suburb Bahrenfeld, research with X-rays of very high brilliance are operated by the world's most powerful storage ring light source. The most brilliant storage ring based X-ray source worldwide is at the DESY (German Electron Synchrotron) site in Hamburg. DESY is one of the world's leading accelerator centers for research into the matter.

The nearly 300-meter-long experimental hall PETRA III, in its curved shape, follows the arc of the 2.3 km long accelerator ring that enables not only a spectacular light for unusual experiments, but is itself also a visual highlight.

The curtain façade was designed by Hamburg architects Dinse Feest Zurl and was installed by Kohlmeyer façade GmbH & Co. KG. It covers a total area of 3,000 square meters with horizontal bands of colored light metal panels. The cladding with Novelis aluminum ff2® in crystal silver tone was added creatively to the undersides of the scale-like arranged facets with aluminum sheets in different colors. Depending on daytime and lighting conditions, a changing play of colors on the bare metal façade shingle was created.

Novelis ff2 ® for accents in the façade design

To meet the high demands on the cladding material for the experimental hall, Novelis coil-coated aluminum sheet from Novelis Germany was used . This coil-coated aluminium sheet has a proven 40-year track record worldwide under the brand name ff2®.

Novelis ff® was specifically designed for façade applications. Its varied design options, weather resistance and cost effectiveness make it the ideal material for façade cladding. During production in the coil-coating process, a constant color and durable surface is achieved; furthermore it is 100% recyclable. ff2® is non-combustible and is rated A1 according to DIN EN 13501.