Winners of the 14th Rigips Trophy 2024 I 2025 honoured
Drywall of the highest quality flatters "eyes and ears"
As part of the 14th Rigips Trophy 2024 | 2025, modern drywall construction has once again impressed with its outstanding interior projects and exceptional craftsmanship – particularly the high-profile expert jury of the renowned drywall competition, consisting of architects, planners, civil engineers, and specialist editors. The jury selected three winning projects in the "Culture Education Leisure," "Office Production," and "Ceiling Solutions" categories. Additionally, the jury awarded three special prizes for extraordinary individual achievements. For the first time this year, a special prize for outstanding work in youth development and training was also presented.
The first and most obvious change compared to previous years' competitions is the new structure of the competition categories. This change aligns with the guidelines of the Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy – the unofficial world championship of drywall construction. The Trophy Coordinator, Karin Melder, explains the reason for the adjustment: "The three winners in the categories 'Culture Education Leisure,' 'Office Production,' and 'Ceiling Solutions' are automatically qualified to present themselves and their projects at the International Trophy. This event will take place in April 2025 in Paris, and of course, we want to give our German winners the opportunity to participate in this competition and prove themselves as 'the best of the best.' In recent years, German delegations have already shone on the international stage, which naturally also represents recognition and appreciation of German craftsmanship," says Karin Melder.
Below, all award-winning projects of the 14th Rigips Trophy 2024 | 2025, including jury evaluations, are presented.
Category Culture Education Leisure, 1st Place: Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf
Ruben Peter Ausbau GmbH, Floh Seligenthal
Photo: © Stefan Josef Mueller
The Kunstpalast Museum, with a floor area of 10,000 m², is one of the most important cultural institutions in the Rhineland. Founded in 1913 on the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf, the museum has undergone multiple renovations over the years. After being closed for three years due to extensive modernisation and renovation work, the listed building reopened in November 2023. The 5,000 m² collection tour has been completely redesigned, both spatially and conceptually. Ruben Peter Ausbau GmbH from Floh-Seligenthal was responsible for the complete interior construction. One of the many challenges faced by the drywall professionals was constructing narrow curtain walls or partitions up to six metres high according to static requirements, which demanded the highest levels of surface quality and flatness. Other challenging tasks included constructing installation walls with very high load requirements and creating ventilated shadow gaps at floor level. The walls had to be partially walkable and accommodate high-quality built-in components, such as fire extinguishers and pictograms. The professionals also created a special construction: a ventilated shed roof with indirect lighting behind the shadow gap. A steel structure provided additional reinforcement. Each ceiling board had to be custom-made for the installation, as complex components such as the ventilation system significantly affected the symmetry of the ceiling. The revision flaps, which required extensive manual production, also took a considerable amount of time. The difficult lighting conditions required the utmost care in surface treatment.
The independent jury praised the highly innovative implementation of the drywall construction, which defined the space and design. Ruben Peter Ausbau GmbH successfully developed the listed building further, excelling in the numerous highly complex tasks, including burglary protection, load fastening and aesthetics. According to the jurors, the requirements were extremely demanding, and they rightly awarded the Ruben Peter team first place in the Culture, Education and Leisure category for their achievements.
Category Office Production, 1st Place: Sartorius Research and Development Building, Building 26, Göttingen
Okel GmbH & Co. KG, Diemelstadt
Photo: Carlotta Roob Photo & Videography
The new Sartorius Research and Development Building spans four floors and includes a technical centre, numerous laboratories, and offices, with a gross floor area of 10,200 m². The atrium serves as the building's social hub, providing a space for meetings and gatherings. A creative design feature is the "green wall", which is aesthetically pleasing and functional thanks to its planting. The drywall professionals from Okel GmbH & Co. KG in Diemelstadt were responsible for ensuring stability over a distance of 20 metres, with the cladding being carried out using Rigips Die Blaue soundproofing boards. Exposed wood plays a special role throughout the building, particularly in combination with reinforced concrete and steel. Challenges faced during the project included high walls, strict acoustic requirements alongside high aesthetic demands, increased moisture protection in windbreak and laboratory areas, and reliable fire protection in relevant areas of the hybrid structure, including fire sections, cable route penetrations and partition walls between different work areas. Fire protection up to F90 was a central challenge. Careful design, preparation, and execution were required for the planning of fire protection walls, partition walls, and fire sections. The success of the project depended on targeted cooperation between all parties involved in construction, with close collaboration and coordination between various disciplines necessary to ensure efficiency, quality, and safety. The expertise of architects, planners, engineers, site managers and other professionals was incorporated into the planning process from an early stage and was crucial for the successful implementation of this project. The Sartorius Research and Development Building was awarded Platinum by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), marking the first time this recognition had been given to a research facility.
The jury was thoroughly impressed by the exemplary implementation of the research building's wood-hybrid construction. This technically demanding structure could only be realised through the use of modern drywall systems. The jurors rated the room-high "green wall", which was finished to Q4 quality standards and featured a sophisticated irrigation and drainage system, as outstanding. They also praised the individual implementation of Saint-Gobain Ecophon ceiling boards, which used an innovative edge treatment system developed by the drywall professionals from Diemelstadt.
Category Ceiling Solutions, 1st Place: Music Academy, Staufen
Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH, Teningen
Photo: www.makis-photography.com
The new Music Academy in Staufen was designed to provide spaces for performances, rehearsals and seminars, as well as accommodation for students and seminar participants. The ceilings and walls of the rehearsal and performance spaces had to meet the strictest acoustic standards. The project's complexity posed the greatest challenge. Sound absorption and reflection presented significant challenges to the drywall specialists from Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH in Teningen, Baden-Württemberg. Perfect conditions had to be created for installing numerous curtain rails, acoustic elements, inspection hatches, and ventilation ducts. The construction of substructures required consideration of various room heights to ensure that the systems met the specified acoustic room concept. Particular attention was given to soundproofing requirements for partition walls and ceilings, as well as to the static demands of room acoustics and the associated ceiling weight. Additionally, precise fitting of the Rigips Rigitone Activ' Air boards was crucial for the overall visual appearance and interplay of the ceiling and wall surfaces. By using Rigips Rigitone Activ' Air 8/18 Q, Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH was able to meet all requirements and ensure excellent acoustic quality in the rooms. To increase soundproofing in the area of room partitions, the drywall professionals installed robust hard gypsum boards.
The sound experience depends entirely on the room's acoustics. Accordingly, the acoustic requirements for the walls and ceilings of the Music Academy's rehearsal and performance rooms were extremely high. Different drywall constructions were required for each room. Specific soundproofing details extended into the substructure. The jury stated that Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH had designed the rooms to meet the highest acoustic standards, earning the Teningen team 1st place in the Ceiling Solutions category.
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Recognised as a system provider of high-quality drywall solutions by construction professionals, RIGIPS offers a wide range of gypsum and speciality boards, Rigidur gypsum fibreboards, profiles and accessories, as well as high-performance joint fillers and compounds. The tested solutions prove their worth in interior and exterior drywall constructions. Particularly, the system offerings for weather-protected façade constructions make RIGIPS the ideal partner for timber frame construction. With its continuously expanding range of healthy living products and highly effective fire and soundproofing systems, the manufacturer stands for maximum safety and comfort. The comprehensive product and system portfolio is complemented by a wide range of services and personalised expert advice, providing valuable support in the planning and execution of even the most demanding construction projects. At the same time, RIGIPS is committed to environmental responsibility, focusing on sustainable climate protection and the conservation of natural resources. For instance, gypsum board recycling options increasingly close material cycles, while product packaging made from recycled materials reduces the need for primary raw materials. RIGIPS has repeatedly been recognised as a "Brand of the Century" and is one of the most significant brands for modern drywall solutions in the German market. The company is part of the international Saint-Gobain Group. In a nutshell: RIGIPS – building better for people and the environment.
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As a global leader in sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain develops, produces and distributes materials and services for the construction sector and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for renovating public and private buildings, lightweight construction, and decarbonising the construction sector and industry are developed through continuous innovation. These solutions offer sustainability and performance. The Saint-Gobain Group, which will celebrate its 360th anniversary in 2025, is guided by its purpose: “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.
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