The former industrial building in Altena will be used as a real-world laboratory to research sustainable usage concepts for building components under real conditions.

On October 24, 2025, a tour of the SFB 1683 reference building took place. Eighteen searchers from various subprojects took part in the two-hour tour. The aim was to gain insights into the real-world laboratory and identify possible links to their own research. The former industrial building was severely damaged during a flood in 2021 and has been vacant ever since. It now offers ideal conditions for investigating real construction and material structures.

On site, participants were given an overview of the current condition of the building, the progress of the gutting work, and the planned demolition measures. In the future, the property will offer a wide range of opportunities for testing, sampling, and the development of new reference components. The City of Altena provides the building for research purposes until its demolition begins in summer 2026.

Report on the tour in the regional press