In the middle of the Essen-Kray district on the site of the former Essen logistics center of ALDI Nord, a new, innovative office complex is to be created. In the future, all organizational units of ALDI Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG, the administrative and service company of the corporate group, will be united there.
All employees who currently work at three different locations will find a place on the new campus. The building complex can be expanded to house more than 2,000 workstations. The const
ruction of the campus is part of the consistent modernization and growth strategy of ALDI Nord. After the restructuring of the entire store network, a modern, highly attractive working environment for the employees will now be created in Kray.
The new world of work at ALDI Nord
"Here at our location of the future, we want to present ourselves as a company and an employer in a new and modern way", says Torsten Janke, Managing Director of Albrecht KG and chiefly responsible for Campus-Bau. On an area of around 100,000 m2, a new, agile working area will emerge, characterized by contemporary architecture, open structures, mobility and interdisciplinary exchange. "A modern work place - for us that means modern equipment and modern conditions," says Janke.
For example, open-plan areas with sufficient retreat areas should provide a real 'start-up' atmosphere. So-called communication hubs will replace classic meeting rooms and are particularly suitable for short-term meetings. The integrated plaza in the middle of the campus should invite employees to stay and be a place of exchange. In addition, the campus will be equipped with a fitness pavilion for the staff and a daycare center. Sustainability was also taken into account in Campus Planning right from the start. For example, the roofs of buildings are largely equipped with green areas and photovoltaic systems.
Historical connection to Essen-Kray
As part of the planning, the long-established company consciously decided to stay true to the historic location in Kray. "We are pleased that with the laying of the foundation stone for our new ALDI Campus. We can continue the history of Essen-Kray as a successful business location," explains Torsten Janke. "A location that has stood for industrialization, progress and jobs for decades, and where ALDI Nord's success story began in the 1970s."
Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen also praised the discounter's dedication to the Ruhrgebiet in his speech: "Today, we not only lay the foundation for a modern office building, but we also lay the first stone for the new workplace of around 800 employees," said Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen. "At the same time, another important pillar is growing here for the business location Essen. I am delighted that, as a city of Essen, we have been able to play a part in setting the course for the successful future of Essen's successful company. I wish you all the best today and good luck with the construction of the new ALDI Campus."
Among those present were professor Eckhard Gerber and the team of Gerber Architekten, overall responsible for the implementation and planning of the ALDI Campus, as well as other project partners. Jessica Borchardt, Managing Director of BAID Architektur GmbH, responsible for the design planning of the ALDI Campus, explained to what extent the architecture of office buildings makes modern work possible. "The campus should become a multi-site for knowledge transfer and digital work at ALDI," says Borchardt.
In 2022, the new ALDI Campus is to be ready for occupancy. The contracted general contractor is MBN Bau AG, which will accompany the build of the Campus over the next three years. "Building is a matter of trust," says Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Kotbusch, Managing Director of MBN Bau in Essen. "Therefore, we are very much looking forward to working together as a partner and to implementing this project together with ALDI Nord."
For more information: www.aldi-nord.de