Landmark building integrates green technologies and marks a new milestone of Siemens' development in China
Beijing, September 25, 2008 --Siemens Center Beijing (SCB), the new Headquarters to Siemens Ltd., China was unveiled in Beijing, marking an historical moment in the 136 years of success and tradition of the company in China and standing out as among the top green buildings in Beijing. Ms. Cheng Hong, Vice Mayor of the Beijing Municipal Government, Mr. Chen Gang, Party Secretary of Chaoyang District, Prof. Dr. Hermann Requardt, member of Siemens AG Managing Board and Asia Pacific Chairman, and Dr. Richard Hausmann, CEO Siemens North East Asia and President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China cut the ribbon on the 123-meter high rise building in Wangjing, northeast of the capital city. More than 200 government officials, business partners and customers, and company staff representatives enjoyed the festivities and visited the new facilities.
The construction of the Siemens Center Beijing (SCB), with a total investment of 100 million euros, is one of Siemens' largest real estate investment projects worldwide. Located in Chaoyang District, the newly constructed Center covers an area of 17,500 square meters and two five-storey annexes with two interior courtyards. Designed to accommodate over 3,000 workspaces, the 30-storey office tower will house the Headquarters of Siemens Ltd., China and partly consolidate the offices of local Siemens companies, subsidiaries and operating companies under one roof. As the cityscape alters in tandem with local economic development, the new Center, with its strikingly curved glass fa?ade, outstands the skyline as a new landmark in the booming business district in Beijing.
"The launch of the new Siemens Center Beijing is a clear demonstration of the good cooperation and mutual trust between the City and Siemens." said Vice Mayor Cheng Hong congratulating the launch of the SCB, "Over the thirty years of reform and opening-up, Siemens has cooperated with China at all fronts, making remarkable contribution to the modernization of the country and becoming a major partner for China's economic development. The new building is another successful model of the bi-lateral cooperation."
Steady business growth over the past 30 years has made China a cornerstone of Siemens global business, while creating demands for more working space and improved infrastructure. "By the opening of the new China head office, we will not only offer a brand-new home to Siemens China employees in the SCB, but also reaffirm our strong commitment to a long-term and sustainable development of China." said Prof. Dr. Hermann Requardt, member of Siemens AG Managing Board and Asia Pacific Chairman.
Showcasing Siemens innovative products and technologies, the SCB has been built as a green project that is energy-saving and environmental-friendly in operation to achieve sustainable development. Early this year, Siemens has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 percent from 2006 to 2011 and reduce water consumption and waste production significantly. As buildings contribute to 40% of energy consumption, green architecture, construction and measures are employed throughout the Siemens Center Beijing in sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. In addition, an automation and energy management system "Made by Siemens" is applied to provide optimum control for all building systems, including electrical transformers and distribution equipment, building controls and lighting systems, security systems, data systems, networks and telephone systems, thereby enhancing comfort and safety for occupants in a "smart" workspace.
The new Siemens China headquarters ranks top in maximizing energy efficiency with its unique intelligent and environmental friendly features. Equipped with complete energy conservation measures such as heat recovery, free cooling and chilled beam, the Siemens Center Beijing uses 28% less energy than base condition without any energy conservation measures and accordingly reduces carbon dioxide emission by 1,200-1,600 tons every year. By installing waterless urinals and a grey water system, water consumption can be reduced by 20-30%. All these measures not only benefit the environment, in the final analysis, by a cost-saving of 21% in operation (not including heating cost via district heating) they make financial sense as well.
"The new Siemens headquarters in Beijing are a model project for an environmental-friendly and energy- and resource-conserving style of construction" said Dr. Sluitner, CEO Siemens Real Estate. "It is exemplary of Siemens' ambitious aim to cut energy and water consumption in its real estate projects throughout the world."
In 2007, Siemens Real Estate launched a "Green Building Initiative" that covers the entire life cycle of an item of real estate, starting from the analysis of requirements and the development of the concept to the planning, construction, operation and even demolition. With a total of some 30,000 patents for environment and climate-related solutions and an investment of over 2 billion euros every year in research and development, the Initiative aims to increase the energy efficiency in the factories and at sites of Siemens worldwide by 20% in 2011.
"In all aspects, the new Siemens Center is a milestone of our development in China, a milestone of our on-going efforts in environmental care and energy efficiency, and a milestone of our dedication to growing side by side with the local community, the people and the country." said Dr. Richard Hausmann, President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China. "While we are targeting at order intake from our Environmental Portfolio of 4 billion euros in 2010, we at the same time help building a sustainable and resource-efficient environment for millions of people in China."
The Siemens Center Beijing is the first phase of an overall compound development that substitutes some of the existing buildings to satisfy the development of the company. Starting from March 2008, the second phase will include an integrated energy centre, an underground car park and a Service Centre with improved supporting facilities. The whole retrofit construction is scheduled to complete by April of 2011.
Siemens in China
Siemens is one of the most well-known, liked and respected corporate citizens in China. This is not surprising, given the fact that Siemens' first co-operation with China dates back to 1872, when the company delivered China's first pointer telegraph. Presently, all business segments of Siemens worldwide are active in China including Automation and Control, Power, Transportation, Medical, Information and Communications, Lighting as well as Household Appliances. Core focus areas of Siemens are Energy & Environmental Care, Industrial and Public Infrastructures as well as Healthcare. To date, Siemens maintains more than 90 operating companies and 60 regional offices in China. These offices are the backbone of Siemens' regional strategy and ensure that the company is close to its customers to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to their needs. With 40,000 highly qualified local staff, Siemens is one of the largest employers amongst foreign invested enterprises in China. The company has become a fully integrated part of the Chinese economy and is committed to continue its investment to develop and extend local manufacturing, engineering, R&D, software development, as well as procurement to ensure the sustainable and profitable growth of its business in China.
