Utilisation simulations before conversion of an industrial hall
Client: City of Winterthur, Office for Urban Development
Project team: Noa Zoller, Kurt Schläpfer
Services provided: Usage-related burdens, re-use
Year: 2023
The listed “Halle 53” at Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 1 in Winterthur was built around 1890 and is currently used as a car park. Now the former industrial building is to be used as an event venue. Carbotech AG carried out pollutant analyses and usage simulations in the run-up to the change of use.
From industrial foundry to event venue
Originally, “Halle 53” was built as a large foundry. Later, diesel engines were manufactured in the hall. In future, concerts and other events are to be held in this historic and listed venue. However, due to the building’s industrial past, the building fabric may be contaminated by pollutants or unpleasant odours. In order to rule out any health risks after the change of use, Carbotech AG was commissioned to carry out appropriate investigations in advance.
Measurements under utilisation simulation
In its current use as a car park, the hall is heavily ventilated by open areas. It is also not heated. A change of use is therefore accompanied by a change in the prevailing climate. In order to be able to carry out reliable measurements that reflect the situation during use as an event venue as closely as possible, a utilisation simulation was carried out. Heated test zones were set up for this purpose. The conditions during a concert were simulated by vibrating the steel structure. The focus was also on recumbent dust. It was analysed in detail for all relevant pollutants.
Due to the previous use in industrial production and the current use as a car park, various surfaces were also examined for odour pollution.
Results
Thanks to the investigations, important information was obtained which will now be taken into account in further planning. With the implementation of smaller, preventive measures, a change of use is quite possible from a health perspective.
