PFEIFER Structures bang-on-time arena projects

Image: Coliseum GSVA / Michael Rennschmied

Thomas Hermeking speaks with strong conviction that one could bank on PFEIFER Structures to get arena projects done on time.

Thomas Hermeking joined PFEIFER in 2006 after gaining 15 years of experience working on major projects for the general contractors. He is presently the Head of Preconstruction, PFEIFER, Germany.

In a conversation with ‘Coliseum’, Thomas Hermeking, Head of Preconstruction, PFEIFER, Germany, set store by team work and says it helps to deliver projects with tight timelines. One must also listen to the customers as the clients can come up with a lot of conditions.
 

PFEIFER Structures

PFEIFER Structures is a Germany-based company with decades of experience with cable structures, tension rod systems and membrane covers. As pioneers in the field of lightweight architecture they are able to design, supply and install these structures in any material – from steel to wood to membranes, glass or other materials.

Stated Thomas Hermeking, “As PFEIFER Structures we offer lightweight structure, solutions, building envelopes and we like to do everything that moves around operated in buildings. And the expertise that we have gathered and experience is always based on our single source approach – we produce cables, we produce membrane, we produce hard and software for the operable systems we do.”
 

Feats

Counting on their feats, he said their project in Stuttgart (Germany) for the 60,058-capacity Mercedes-Benz Arena “we did the roof cover in two-and-a-half months in 2017. Only the already existing cable nets stayed like it was. It’s a fiber cable system and we added on the fiber membrane system in two and a half months is quite a thing”.

“Similarly, we managed to deconstruct the roof of the 68,013-capacity London Stadium (UK), put it down in one piece and get all the things to a reuse to being recycled afterwards. And then we were proud to erect in the U cable net.”

“Similar story took place for the 57,000-capacity Volkspark Stadium, Hamburg, Germany. They were preparing for Euro 2024 and we changed the membrane of the lifespan and again the cable nets got a second life. It stayed like it was.”

“Even while working for the Spanish Arena, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany, we were told to make this building fit for more intense use and it wanted to be independent of the weather conditions at more events that it could present within this building. And we should be quick because they have a very short offseason and they have a tight schedule during the season. We realized that apart from team work early involvement is the key but what is also important is we first-hand do a design, define everything and then only go for the execution phase.”
 

Wrap-up

Thomas Hermeking pearls of wisdom to sum up, “One has to listen to the customer very carefully and hear what he wants. If you did not get it continue to ask questions until you have the idea that you can make the proposal really fitting to the needs. And only by then you can present the realistic frames for cost and time. And as a contractor don’t forget that you have to have a contract. And then you deliver what you have proposed. It is all about team work. The team idea includes the client and includes our suppliers, our partners.”

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