From Prestressed Concrete to Carbon Concrete – Refurbishment of the Hyparschale Magdeburg

At the core of the refurbishment was the preservation of the existing prestressed concrete structure. Instead of replacing the roof shells, the concrete surfaces – only seven centimeters thin – were precisely ground down and reinforced with carbon-reinforced concrete. Two centimeters of material were removed from both the upper and lower sides and replaced with new carbon concrete layers – a minimally invasive intervention that preserved the original structure while permanently increasing its load-bearing capacity.

This approach significantly reduced material consumption and kept the existing structure within the cycle. Demolition and new construction were avoided, while the targeted use of a high-performance material considerably extended the service life of the building and safeguarded the embodied energy of the historic structure.

By combining preservation of the existing fabric with innovative material technology, the DDR-era building was made fit for the future. The refurbishment of the Hyparschale demonstrates that even complex and heavily damaged concrete structures can be resource-efficiently strengthened through precise interventions.

Original text © Z+B, modified