Bettina Herbst is a consultant for sustainable building, energy and resource management at SPK. She takes us to her favourite place: the cooling centre at the Kulturforum
How long have you been with the SPK and what are your tasks?
I have been working at the SPK in the Construction and Technology department at its headquarters since November 2023. My responsibilities include sustainable construction as well as energy and resource management. In collaboration with the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), I ensure that sustainability criteria are taken into account in all of the SPK's construction projects.
A particular focus is on the energy-efficient operation of the buildings. This applies not only to machinery and heat supply, but also to overall energy consumption. This aspect is already taken into account in the planning phase and continues throughout the operation of the building.
In addition, the SPK is legally obliged to carry out energy management for all buildings. Resource management includes not only energy, but also water and other consumption values.
Another important topic is facility management. This includes repairs, maintenance and construction projects - both smaller and larger measures. A CAFM system (Computer Aided Facility Management) is also being introduced. This software enables digital and efficient management of documentation, appointments, maintenance and invoicing. The introduction is a requirement of the Federal Audit Office and is to be implemented this year in order to optimise processes and ensure seamless documentation.
What is your favourite place and what do you like to do there?
One of my favourite places is the cooling centre. Museums need a constant room climate in order to optimally preserve cultural artefacts. Cooling and dehumidification are essential for this. By default, cold water for air conditioning is generated by chillers, which require a lot of energy and space.
At the Kulturforum and in the Staatsbibliothek's Potsdamer Straße building, we can obtain district cooling from the central cooling centre at Potsdamer Platz instead. This means that we don't need our own chillers or recooling plants - an enormous saving in terms of resources and energy.
I appreciate the cooling centre not only from a technical point of view, but also because of the quiet atmosphere. As there are no noisy chillers in operation, you only hear the pumps, heat exchangers and control systems. This efficient solution makes it much easier to operate the buildings and increases their energy efficiency - a success that I'm sure my colleagues would agree with.
Another favourite place of mine is the Neue Nationalgalerie by Mies van der Rohe, which, incidentally, is also connected to the cooling centre. Since my childhood, I have regularly driven past this impressive building and am fascinated every time. It combines ground-breaking architecture with a unique aesthetic and offers a great space for art and culture. That's why the Neue Nationalgalerie is one of the SPK's most beautiful places for me.
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