Schmidt + Clemens GmbH Canteen - DE

City/country:  Germany/Lindlar

Architect: Architekturbüro Salberg

Drywall construction: Bohle Innenausbau GmbH & Co. KG

Photographer: Hans Georg Esch

Dedication and inventiveness were what it took to transform an empty production shop into an attractive staff cafeteria at the Schmidt + Clemens stainless-steel manufacturing plant in Lindlar. Thanks to well-conceived spatial planning, lighting and ceiling design, the cafeteria has become a popular meeting place and social hub for employees and visitors alike.

Former machine shop turned into a social hub for 600 employees

Schmidt + Clemens is a global market leader in stainless-steel components for the petrochemical industry. At the company’s venerable headquarters in Lindlar, a former machine shop has been thoroughly renovated and transformed into a versatile social hub for the 600 employees and visitors to the plant. Having endured for 130 years, the fabric of the building was worth preserving, but tailor-made solutions were required in terms of interior space distribution, lighting and spatial acoustics.

Gallery-style mezzanine expands the floor space

Architect Gabriele Salberg designed a bi-level solution, with a gallery-style mezzanine, for the long, narrow space, which is only 7 metres wide but 12 metres high. In this way, the hall-like character was retained while the floor space was expanded. An old shop crane was preserved as a reminder of the space’s former use and a symbol of the constructive dialogue between past and present.

Effective lighting and acoustic ceiling create comfort

To provide plenty of natural light in the space, the small-paned industrial windows have given way to larger areas of glazing. In addition, an effective lighting design reinforces the open, airy nature of the space. Master SQ acoustic ceiling panels were used to create a sound-absorbent surface on the high ceiling.

“Because these ceiling panels are mounted using adhesive, we were able to retain the full height of the space and did not have to resort to a costly suspended ceiling that would eat into the space.”
Gabriele Salberg, architect

The net result of this solution was to achieve the desired optical and acoustic effect, and to create a pleasant, inviting ambience.

“The new cafeteria should be a place for communication. We wanted to create an informal atmosphere that encourages people to exchange ideas and share experiences.”
Jan Kümmel, commercial director, Schmidt + Clemens GmbH & Co. KG

This goal was successfully achieved. The cafeteria now offers seating for more than 100 people, spread across the two levels. On the ground floor are the open-plan kitchen, a coffee shop and one of the seating areas. The rest of the seating is on the mezzanine level, where there is also an exhibition of photos tracing the eventful history of the Schmidt + Clemens group.

Cafeteria and a place to recharge

The former production shop is now a central location on the company’s site that serves not only as a cafeteria but also as a popular meeting place. The opening hours have been extended, so that it is now open throughout the workday, from 8am to 6pm. Hot meals are served at lunch and dinner time, with coffee, beverages and snacks available at other times. The number of customers soon more than doubled – it has become a spot where people come to unwind and recharge.

The space is frequently also used for meetings and discussions. The interior architecture and the effective lighting and acoustics are proving their worth, helping to boost employee satisfaction and make Schmidt + Clemens an attractive workplace – as befits a global leader in its field.