Sustainable Solid Wood Ceiling Shapes New Continentale Campus

The new headquarters of the Continentale insurance group marks a major milestone in Dortmund’s urban landscape. Central to the design is a high-quality Derako® Solid Wood Grill ceiling by Hunter Douglas Architectural, installed over 3,000m2. It enhances the building’s atmosphere while offering sustainability, acoustic performance and functional integration.

Modern workplace meets natural aesthetics

Designed by kadawittfeldarchitektur, the new campus brings together several company locations under one roof. At its heart lies the “Boulevard”, a central space with informal meeting areas and a staff restaurant. Here, the Derako® ceiling system introduces visual warmth and structure through custom polygonal fields made from sustainable European oak. “We aimed to integrate a high-quality wood ceiling to enhance the boulevard both visually and functionally,” says Burkhard Floors, Project Manager at kadawittfeldarchitektur.

Focus on sustainability

Combining wood and aluminium, the ceiling is fully demountable and recyclable. “Our system helps bind CO2 and allows easy separation of materials for reuse”, says Marco Moryson, Project Manager at Hunter Douglas Architectural. Alternatives like plasterboard were ruled out for their poor environmental footprint.

Acoustics and Integration

The ceiling’s open construction and integrated absorber layer ensure excellent acoustics. Lighting and sensors are discretely placed between the slats, maintaining a clean, harmonious look.

Proven partnership

Following successful collaborations in Kassel and Frankfurt, kadawittfeldarchitektur once again partnered with Hunter Douglas Architectural. “Their expertise helped us tailor technical solutions early in the design phase. The system’s easy access for maintenance is a real advantage”, says project lead Burkhard Floors. The Continentale Campus sets new standards for sustainable office design – with the Derako® wood ceiling as a key architectural element.