First 3D-printed building in Northern Germany

Building history is being made in Selsingen as construction contractor Matthäi is currently erecting the first 3D-printed building in Northern Germany. This office building situated at the premises of the Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau subsidiary is a new building the walls of which are being fabricated by a 3D printer. Joining forces with partner company Peri 3D Construction, Matthäi is constructing a two-story building that will set advanced architectural standards and attract the attention of observers.

“We are delighted to contribute to a landmark project for modern construction based on state-of-the-art technology using our innovative TectorPrint 3D product,” says Fenja Josefin Thießen, Head of Sales, Binder Solutions, at Holcim (Deutschland) GmbH in Hamburg.

Printing of the future headquarters of Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau commenced on May 21, 2025. On the following days, the 3D printer will fabricate the walls of the new building piece by piece and allow them to grow layer by layer. Overall, the ground floor is estimated to take 50 hours to print, and the upper story will take another 55 hours to complete. Underpinnings, foundation slab, ceilings, and roof will be built using conventional methods. Project completion is scheduled for December 2025.

The 3D-printed building will have remarkable dimensions, even more so for a building completed using this innovative construction technique. This office building will be about 7.40 m high, 22.50 m long and 13.50 m deep. Its design and façade are set to create a lasting impression.

Building the future

The building under construction in Selsingen exemplifies the mission of Matthäi Group, which is “We build the future.” After all, not only is a new office building being constructed at an impressive pace, but the company is also expanding its own wealth of experience as a construction contractor. As early as in the design phase, Matthäi significantly broadened its own knowledge of 3D printing thanks to this pioneering project.

“The entire Matthäi Group is proud to be able to complete the first 3D-printed building in Northern Germany,” emphasizes Bernd Mergard, Managing Director of Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau. “Together with our partners from Peri 3D Construction, we are taking a major step towards the future of construction. This once again demonstrates the extent to which Matthäi combines corporate growth with innovation and progress,” Mergard adds.

The project is also being supported by engineering firm Schiessl Gehlen Sodeikat GmbH. It is a great pleasure for them to assist Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau GmbH & Co. KG and all other project stakeholders with erecting the first 3D-printed building in Northern Germany.

Applying this innovative construction technique requires a project-related construction technique permit (vBG) or project-related approval (ZiE). The engineering firm’s responsibilities include preparing the testing and approval concept as well as drafting an expert opinion for obtaining the above approvals. In addition, they are supporting the project stakeholders in an advisory and expert capacity in the design phase, during construction, and for several years post-completion.

The 3D printing system comes from Peri 3D Construction, a leading provider of integrated solutions for the 3D printing of entire buildings. For this purpose, the Cobod BOD2 system, a large gantry-based printer, was installed on the job site in a 24 m long, 15 m wide and 9 m high setup. A Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau team is operating this printing system independently. Employees were trained on the system for this purpose. In addition, an experienced supervisor from Peri 3D Construction is available on-site to oversee the project and provide support whenever technical questions arise.

Tim Schulenburg, Managing Director of architectural firm Schulenburg, identifies enormous potential: “3D concrete printing enables us to completely revolutionize conventional construction processes. From our firm’s standpoint, we consider this innovation to be not just a technological advancement. Instead, it is giving rise to the creation of a completely new sector of the construction industry. This technology enables us to shape the future of construction – in a faster, more flexible, and more sustainable way.”

Much more than just an

engineering innovation

Design firm Mense-Korte also considers this project to be much more than just an engineering innovation: “As pioneers in the 3D printing of buildings, we are fully aware of the enormous potential this outstanding technology provides for the construction industry and the positive impact it will have on the housing situation of many people in Germany. For years, we have been unwaveringly committed to the mission of using building printing to enable everyone in Germany to live in dignity, regardless of their social background and income situation. We are infinitely grateful to Matthäi Group for expressing their belief in 3D printing by constructing this fantastic office building. Together with such strong, visionary partners, we will make housing livable and affordable for everyone again,” stresses Waldemar Korte, Managing Director of Mense-Korte GmbH.

“The fact that Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau chose its own office building for completing the company’s first 3D printing project is a strong testimony to its entrepreneurial vision and the willingness to get involved and tackle issues proactively,” says Dr. Fabian Meyer-Brötz, Managing Director of Peri 3D Construction. “At the same time, this project clearly shows how far this technology has advanced: 3D concrete printing is no longer an experimental niche, but a practical, ready-to-use tool – one that our customers can use independently to implement groundbreaking projects starting today. This is perfectly aligned with our ambition of enabling businesses such as Matthäi to get started in 3D printing themselves by providing them with training, design and project support and, as a matter of course, the appropriate technology. We are delighted to be able to accompany Matthäi on this journey and would like to thank them for their trust and outstanding collaboration.”

Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau is a subsidiary of Matthäi Group. Being one of over 70 locations of the Verden-based group of companies, the entity specializes in constructing functional buildings, including industrial and commercial premises, office and administration buildings, factories and logistics centers, and container facilities.

Matthäi Schlüsselfertigbau’s comprehensive portfolio shows that the company’s projects are always geared toward innovation and sustainability. Not only is this visionary corporate culture manifested in the new, 3D-printed office building in an iconic manner. In future, it will also be visible and tangible for visitors even before they access the building.