Opening of the Laboratory for technical building equipment
A new laboratory for technical building equipment at TU Dortmund University offers students practical insights into modern technology. The laboratory was officially opened with the support of ten companies, including Louis Opländer GmbH. It promotes the transfer of knowledge between research and industry and strengthens the Dortmund model of interdisciplinary education.
A new laboratory for technical building services equipment allows TU students from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering to get to know state-of-the-art technology in practice. The laboratory was inaugurated on June 20 together with NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes. Ten companies from the industry are supporting the project and donated a ventilation system and a heat pump, among other things. The 200 square meter laboratory is located in the company headquarters of Louis Opländer GmbH in Phoenix-West.
Ina Brandes, Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, emphasized at the opening ceremony that the new laboratory is a sign of the good cooperation between TU Dortmund University and companies, between research and teaching on the one hand and economic concerns on the other. TU Rector Prof. Manfred Bayer also reported on what the laboratory could mean for potential spin-offs from the university and the transfer of findings from research to the private sector: "Perhaps some students will come up with ideas here that will benefit companies," he said in his welcoming speech.
Jan Opländer, Managing Director of Louis Opländer GmbH and co-founder of the new laboratory, emphasized that the increasingly important technical building equipment (TGA) would become tangible and tangible for students with the laboratory: "Nowadays, the TGA share in new buildings is 28-35 percent, and in existing buildings it is even a proud 50 percent of the total order value." The equipment donated by the funding companies includes a heat pump, a gas boiler, a ventilation system, pressure maintenance systems, measurement and control technology and sanitary installations. The investment costs for the laboratory amount to around half a million euros.
New laboratory strengthens Dortmund study model
Also speaking at the inauguration were the Dean of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Prof. Mike Gralla, Prof. Wolfgang Willems from the Chair of Building Physics and Technical Building Services and the head of the new laboratory, Angelina Pötz. The laboratory also strengthens the department's so-called Dortmund Model, a unique study model at TU Dortmund University that has been training prospective architects and civil engineers together since the faculty was founded 50 years ago. In this way, the university aims to promote early cooperation between the two faculties and to generate the most realistic image of construction practice possible. It is important that both departments can acquire practical knowledge about building technology, to which the new laboratory will make a significant contribution.
The opening was also attended by numerous students, some of whom were particularly pleased: To mark the inauguration of the lab, Louis Opländer GmbH awarded scholarships totaling 6,000 euros to five students. In addition to Louis Opländer GmbH, the sponsoring companies and cooperation partners also include Danfoss GmbH, Geberit International AG, Hilti Deutschland AG, Lindner Group KG, Priva Building Intelligence GmbH, Reflex Winkelmann GmbH, TROX GmbH, HEINZ TROX Stiftung and Viessmann Climate Solutions SE.