Due to aging building technology and structural restrictions, the modernization of existing buildings demands that designers be flexible and willing to improvise. The Radisson Blu Hotel project in Cologne is an excellent example: Although the building was constructed in the mid-1990s and designed as a hotel from the start, “even the best technology, even with the best maintenance, eventually runs its course,” says Detlef Brunke, managing partner of DBU Planungs- und Projektmanagement GmbH. For this reason, the building technology of the Radisson Blu was subjected to a fundamental rejuvenation – which was accomplished during ongoing operations, on schedule and on budget.
“We wanted to implement something innovative – a sustainable and cost-optimized solution for the investor Pandox, instead of simply replacing old technology with new,” says Brunke, recalling the initial planning. A fundamental goal of the modernization was replacing the building management system (BMS) and connecting the hotel rooms to the new BMS. “We had originally intended to set up a new network using WAGO controllers,” explains Ingo Andrä, project manager for ICE technology and building automation at Kynast Elektroanlagen. This company was awarded the contract to implement the building automation that DBU designed. However, a substantial problem arose because ETHERNET was not available for a distributed I/O system. Fire safety considerations meant that a TCP/IP network could not be retrofitted. The ETHERNET cables would have to be run through the hallways – and then only in specific fire protection ducts. “That was simply not acceptable here,” recalls Ingo Andrä.
