System components accelerate hybrid dormitory construction
25.02.2026
Figure: Dennert
Only three months from groundbreaking to topping-out ceremony: In Erlangen, the construction time for a student residence was reduced by approximately 30% compared to conventional construction methods thanks to the use of system components.
The residential complex, constructed using a wood-concrete hybrid construction method, comprises 26 fully furnished one-room apartments. In the four-story building, the load-bearing walls were constructed from solid cross-laminated timber elements combined with 700 m² of DX prefabricated ceilings and 26 bathroom modules from precast concrete specialist Dennert.
Faster and more efficient thanks to prefabrication
DX prefabricated ceilings are approx. 40% lighter than filigree ceilings with concrete topping (330 kg/m² instead of 550 kg/m²), reducing the usual amount of concrete grouting on the construction site by 90%. The ceiling elements are placed, subjected to alignment, and bolted together using a crane, then the joints and ring anchors are reinforced and filled with C25/30 concrete. Construction can continue on the upper floors the very next day. With a slab thickness of only 20 cm, the DX ceiling can bridge a span of up to seven meters, depending on the structural requirements, while other ceiling systems have to increase the ceiling thickness by 10 to 20% for spans of 5.20 m or more.
Dennert solved the complex challenges of the sanitary work with 26 completely pre-assembled and factory-tiled bathroom modules, which were installed in the shell and only had to be connected to the building services. The complex coordination of various trades such as screed, drywall, tiling, building services installation, plumbing, and painting was no longer necessary.
Cost-effectiveness and resident protection
Completion of the 26 apartments is scheduled for June 2026. The high degree of prefabrication also has a positive effect on the surrounding area: by relocating the essential work steps to the production hall, noise and dirt on the construction site were reduced to a minimum. Shorter installation times also meant significantly less disruption for the neighborhood and fewer road closures.
CONTACT
Veit Dennert KG
Veit-Dennert-Straße 7
96132 Schlüsselfeld/Germany
+49 9552 71 0
