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This power plant realizes a dramatic new energy concept for the City of Minden, while it also emphasizes responsible urban design. The project satisfies the client’s desire to comply with a resolution passed by the International Environmental Summit in Rio that all projects contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The North Minden Power Plant demonstrates a current energy-concept which is ecologically viable for the future.

Steam, hot water and electricity combine to provide an energy gain which is more than double that of conventional power plants. The power plant produces 42 million kWh of power with its main components of gas turbine, steam turbine, and gas relaxation turbine. With an additional waste heat generator and two flame smoke pipe generators it produces 110,000 MWh heat a year. Using a process that involves electricity and district heating based on natural gas, the power plant is expected to yield an annual carbon dioxide reduction of 35,000 tons.

The project scope included a comprehensive view of broader issues: Image, neighborhood, context, scale, integration of advanced technical equipment, and budget. A community-friendly response to the neighborhood was demonstrated by individually housing the major functional components. The resulting building massing mediates between the various scales of neighborhood buildings. The building disposition on the site emphasizes the client’s goal of creating public awareness for new energy efficient and environmentally clean power production. The building is oriented toward the highly traveled Ringstrasse where large windows reveal state-of-the-art equipment.

Aesthetic contribution to the community, another client goal, was achieved through the sculptural composition of industrial forms and materials. The piping distribution area was treated as sculpture behind full height glass walls. The roofs convey the imagery of floating turbine blades while brilliant orange and yellow interior accent walls are reminiscent of colors inside the turbines.

The resulting building engages the public in a realm of art, engineering, technology, and architecture. This increases the value of the industrial area. It is seen by the community as an urban development highlight and already serves as an impulse for the improvement of other buildings in the area. The city has expressed its pride in this new architecture by sponsoring a sculpture competition and turning the lawn of the power plant into an Art Park.