we are
engineers
© sbp/Andreas Schnubel
We design outstanding projects
schlaich bergermann partner are independent consulting engineers and designers – we conceptualize and design structures and buildings that bear our signature. Creative, innovative and responsible, we are always looking for the best and most efficient solution for the site, client and environment.
This is how we create long-span, lightweight roof structures, multifaceted bridges, slender towers, innovative high-rise buildings and pioneering solar power plants. Interdisciplinary and cooperative, we work with clients, architects, specialist engineers, construction companies, industry, and universities all over the world. Years of experience and the courage to break new ground are our daily motivation.
Our expertise
Our claim
Since our founding in 1980, we have been designing, coordinating and implementing projects worldwide that shape the built environment. We accept this great responsibility and see the enormous opportunities that arise from it. Regardless of the size, type or location of a project, we are concerned with the positive impact on users and residents while also maximizing the protection of our shared environment. We always strive to make a holistic, sustainable contribution to building culture.
Our ability to act as specialists in a wide variety of fields is supported by our broader approach as generalists, allowing us to contribute to projects from concept to completion. The more demanding the project, the more visible our contribution.
work • life • sbp
Our team is number one. To this end, we offer diverse and flexible entry and development opportunities – whether for motivated career starters or already experienced specialists. Get to know the corporate culture and your diverse opportunities at schlaich bergermann partner!
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Located in 📍 Chengdu, China, the Chengdu Jingdong Headquarters stands as the iconic hub of JD.com, a prominent online retailer.
Designed by gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg, and Partner in collaboration with China Academy of Building Research, this 12-story building showcases innovation at its finest. The structure boasts a unique design with three interconnected volumes stacked at right angles, forming an elegant figure-eight shape. This design not only creates green courtyards and rooftop gardens but also offers flexible office spaces flooded with natural light. At the core of Chengdu Jingdong Headquarters lies a practical architectural concept – nine robust building cores that efficiently distribute loads. This smart strategy ensures maximum flexibility for allocating its expansive 12,500 square meters of floor space. These cores act as the primary load-bearing framework, evenly distributed throughout the building. The building's facade is a blend of sleek concrete elements and glass surfaces, housing operable ventilation panels. This design not only provides plenty of natural light in the interior spaces, but also an ever-shifting play of transparency and enclosure which creates a unique character for the building in its urban setting.
architecture: @gmp.architects
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: @schranimage
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#headquarters
#sbpbuildings
#glass
We're pleased to share the latest progress on the Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge. This remarkable architectural gem is poised to become a significant symbol for 📍 Tulsa, Oklahoma. Designed to replace an older bridge, this 439-meter-long structure seamlessly links the eastern and western banks of the Arkansas River, connecting the "The Gathering Place" park project with nearby neighborhoods.
Featuring an elegant bowstring design crafted from resilient steel and supported by a sturdy concrete superstructure, the Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge showcases a remarkable blend of engineering and artistic ingenuity. The bridge deck, spanning 5.5 meters in width and covering an area of 2,400 square meters, gracefully rises an impressive 13.7 meters above the Arkansas River. The Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge represents a significant milestone. Its semi-integrated design highlights slender arches, fashioned from an 8 cm thick layer of weather-resistant steel – a pioneering achievement in the USA. As the evening sets in, these arches come to life with enchanting lighting that dances upon the river's surface, captivating both locals and visitors alike. We eagerly await the completion of this masterpiece, gracing Tulsa's skyline in 2024.
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
landscape architecture: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
photo credit 📷: Drone Optix / Crossland Construction | sbp/Stephan Hollinger
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#weatherresistantsteel
#pedestrianbridge
#construction
#sbpbridges
Nestled in the heart of 📍Brasília and serving as the central axis of the city, the National Stadium Brasília underwent a remarkable transformation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The architects at Castro Mello collaborated with sbp and gmp Architects to bring to life a new stadium bowl, accompanied by a circular esplanade and a unique double-layer suspended roof.
Boasting an expansive membrane roof spanning 55,155 square meters, the stadium provides shade to 71,000 seats beneath. The supporting columns and esplanade are crafted from reinforced concrete, ensuring both strength and elegance. The innovative design draws inspiration from the symmetrical spoke wheel principle. Moreover, in a groundbreaking effort towards sustainability, the architects introduced the concept of integrating photovoltaic modules and rainwater collection systems, highlighting the commitment to an eco-conscious approach for the refurbishment of the stadium.
architecture: @gmp.architects | Castro Mello Arquitetos, São Paulo
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: @marcusbredt
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#FIFA2014 #stadium
#membraneroof
#sbpstadia
The footbridge is located in 📍 Bad Hersfeld, Germany, and serves as a direct link between the vibrant neighborhood of Johannesburg and the heart of the city center.
The bridge's unique single-sided cable-stayed design ensures a seamless experience for pedestrians and cyclists alike. It forms a captivating S-shape and not only adds to its visual appeal, but also provides optimal guidance for cyclists. At night, integrated handrail lighting emits a soft glow to enhance both safety and aesthetics. The slender superstructure gracefully follows the bridge's curvature, while the suspension cables are ingeniously integrated into the bridge's interior on one side.
Standing at approximately 11.4 meters, the masts are both functional and artistic elements of the bridge. Their voided rectangular cross-sections and hinged base points contribute to the overall design's elegance.
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: sbp/Andreas Schnubel
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#pedestrianbridge
#lightingdesign
#sbpbridges
"Circulating Matters" is a temporary staircase and platform installation created for the Cornell Council for the Arts 2022 Biennale in 📍 Ithaca, New York. It was conceived during the "Unbuild:Design" design studio as part of the "Advanced Architectural Design" Master's program at Cornell University.
At the heart of "Circulating Matters" lies a commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles. The installation is formed of a series of frames of reclaimed eastern hemlock and hard pine. This reclaimed wood originates from a 1910 residential building deconstructed cooperatively by academic and community stakeholders as part of the Catherine Commons Deconstruction Project in 2020. The structural components of the platform are fastened together using reversible screw connectors and supported on removable screw foundations. This approach allows for disassembly of the structure, and reassembly, either as individual components or for a complete reconstruction at another location. The project has fostered an ongoing research collaboration between the Circular Construction Lab @cornellaap and our team to explore the application of circular economy principles in design and planning, such as Design for Deconstruction, reusing materials structurally, and the application of material passports.
architecture: Circular Construction Lab and Unbuild:Design students
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: @felix.heisel /Circular Construction Lab | Joseph McGranahan
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#reducereuserecycle
#timberstructure
#circularity
The Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) Technical Center was officially inaugurated in August 2021. Its exceptional architecture comprises two towers gracefully connected in the upper levels by four "sky bridges". The twelve-story office building is 60 meters tall, covering a total area of 41,900 square meters. Two expansive cable net-glass facades dominate the structure and encompass the remarkable 9-story atrium. The building offers modern offices, a vibrant cafeteria, recreational areas, and other essential facilities. At the pinnacle of the towers, you'll find the VR Automotive Exhibition Hall and Innovation Center, offering a breathtaking view over the VW campus.
architecture: @hpparchitekten
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: HPP Architects / Photographer: Zhang Yong
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#shanghaivolkswagen
#cablenet #glass
#sbpbuildings
The luminous grid shell commissioned by Bank of America for their headquarters in 📍 Charlotte, North Carolina is a stunning suspended glass sculpture gracing the 60th floor of the 265-meter-tall Bank of America Corporate Center.
The design emerged from the interplay of two s-shaped curves - one in the profile and the other in the plan view. By strategically shifting and linearly stretching the first curve, the sculpture assumes a mesmerizing trapezoidal appearance. The entire structure was meticulously crafted from 9 x 9 individual glass panels, each consisting of a 12mm etched toughened safety glass sheet and a 6mm dichroic-coated float glass sheet. Aluminum corner fittings adhesively bonded to the four corners securely connect these glass panels. High-strength stainless steel rods, carefully placed in the joints, efficiently distribute the tensile forces within the shell.
design: @jamescarpenterdesign
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: James Carpenter Design Associates Inc./Photo: Chris Vespermann
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#gridshell #artpiece
#glass #sculpture
#sbpclassic
The Wuyuanhe Stadium situated in the provincial capital 📍 Haikou on the island of Hainan is part of a large-scale cultural and sports development project. The stadium hosts national and international sporting events as well as cultural events. One of its distinctive features is the asymmetrical height of the building, designed to harmonize with the local surroundings. The significantly taller west stand opens up to the sea, offering visitors not only a breathtaking view, but also natural shading and ventilation.
The grandstand is elegantly covered by a crescent-shaped membrane roof that allows natural daylight to illuminate the stadium's interior. The translucent material provides a warm and inviting ambiance while minimizing the need for artificial lighting during daytime. From a structural point of view, the ring cable structure is made of two outer compression rings and one inner tension ring. An elevated walkway above the stands offers visitors a spectacular panoramic view of the city and the sea.
architecture: @gmp.architects
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: @marcusbredt
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#sbpstadia #membrane
#spokewheelprincipal
#stadium
The pedestrian walkway and observation platform 'Footbridge at Königsstuhl' in 📍Sassnitz, Germany, is a stunning single-pylon suspension bridge that elegantly spans the rugged landscape of the chalk cliffs on the beautiful island of Rügen. The new footbridge replaces a scenic walkway that was no longer able to handle the large crowds of visitors enjoying the breathtaking views of the chalk cliffs of the Königsstuhl. Erosion and damage to the rocks called for a new approach. Therefore, we designed a circular trail starting from a stable plateau and gracefully crossing the "Königsgrab" with a tensioned suspension bridge. This innovative design allows visitors to walk across the Königsstuhl without turning around or facing oncoming traffic, ensuring an uninterrupted experience. The platform opened in April this year and has already become a popular tourist attraction. Have you made plans for your visit yet?
architecture: #schlaichbergermannpartner
photo credit 📷: Timm Allrich | sbp/Laura Schmidt
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#suspensionbridge
#königsstuhl
#sbpbridges
The Allianz Stadium in 📍 Sydney, Australia is hosting five matches of this year’s Women Football World Cup, that just started this week! After the completion of its redevelopment in September last year, the NSW Government has ensured a stadium that fulfills modern requirements for hosting international sports and entertainment events and also serves as soccer and rugby stadium. The roof structure consists of four main trusses, that are supported at the corner positions by triangulated derrick structures. The lower radial elements of the trusses are curved, forming the inner roof covered with a transparent membrane and providing space underneath for the portal. Each truss is composed of three beams, braced on both sides with diagonals. The outer perimeter beam acts as a tension ring for the gridshell structure spanning between the lower truss chords and the outer ring.
We are looking forward to the first game there this weekend! ⚽
architecture: Cox Architecture, Melbourne
structural engineering: #schlaichbergermannpartner
cooperation: Aurecon Group Sydney; John Holland
photo credit 📷: Damien Ford
#schlaichbergermann #sbp
#thebeautyofstructures
#allianzstadiumsydney
#stadium #sbpstadia
#membrane