Faster, better, more demanding

Interview with Björn Oellrich, Managing Director of ADK Modulraum GmbH

ADK Modulraum GmbH Laboratory Building City of Hamburg
For the City of Hamburg, ADK Modulraum has just completed an innovative office and laboratory building on 5600 m2 GFA with the techhub

The construction industry is facing a paradigm shift. As speed, precision, and sustainability increasingly gain importance, modular construction is becoming more established as an innovative and efficient solution. This method allows buildings to be erected in record time by prefabricating large parts in specialized workshops and then assembling them on site. This not only drastically reduces construction times but also improves the quality and sustainability of the projects. ADK Modulraum GmbH, a pioneer in this field, impressively demonstrates how this construction method can be successfully used not only in hospital construction but also in other demanding areas such as life sciences and data centers. In an interview with Wirtschaftsforum, Managing Director Björn Oellrich provides exciting insights into the history, challenges, and future perspectives of the company.

Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Oellrich, can you tell us something about the history of ADK Modulraum GmbH?

Björn Oellrich: The company was founded exactly 20 years ago by three visionary founders. They aimed to develop solutions based on modular construction for hospital construction. With this, they were able to quickly establish the company in the industry and develop it into the market leader in the area of modular construction for hospital construction, which we still are today. Even though no new hospitals will be built as part of the hospital reform, the specialization of hospitals requires structural changes—such as an increased demand for additions like hybrid operating rooms, for which we are the right contact. In addition, in recent years we have increasingly specialized in further segments, so that we are not solely dependent on the hospital sector. Moreover, we work internationally and realize projects around the globe.

Björn Oellrich, Managing Director of ADK Modulraum GmbH
Björn Oellrich, Managing Director of ADK Modulraum GmbH

Wirtschaftsforum: What are the specializations of ADK Modulraum GmbH today and what strengths do they have over competitors?

Björn Oellrich: We specialize in three main segments: Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Data Centers. In healthcare, we construct highly technologized areas such as operating rooms and hospital pharmacies with cleanrooms. In the Life Sciences sector, we primarily build laboratories for pharmaceutical companies. The data center segment is currently the fastest-growing and also demands high technical precision, which we can perfectly deliver. A major part of the buildings is prefabricated in our workshop, which significantly reduces assembly time onsite. We handle the entire assembly and installation of technical trades in the workshop, thereby guaranteeing high quality. Speed and precision are decisive factors here. We manage to halve the construction time without compromising on quality. In addition, we use a sustainable steel-skeleton construction method that does without concrete, thus meeting current requirements.

Wirtschaftsforum: Can you give us some examples of your projects and services?

Björn Oellrich: Our focus is on hospital construction and laboratory buildings. We also construct commercial buildings, schools, nursing homes, and embassies. We offer customized solutions that meet the highest quality standards and are tailored to the specific requirements of our clients, even when they are particularly demanding. We are currently realizing two major data center projects. One of these will be implemented in Portugal. In the healthcare sector, we are currently carrying out several projects including the construction of new operating rooms in locations such as Stuttgart and Brandenburg. With the handover of the techhub in Hamburg, we have just completed a larger office and laboratory building. For the Life Sciences sector, we are realizing a pharmaceutical laboratory in Australia. Another significant project was the construction of the German Embassy in Islamabad.

Wirtschaftsforum: How would you describe the philosophy and strategy of ADK Modulraum GmbH?

Björn Oellrich: As a medium-sized company, we place great emphasis on a partnership-based and efficient collaboration with our clients. However, a significant obstacle remains the approval practices of the authorities, which are often perceived as a nuisance. Although the federal government supports serial modular construction, the regulations are not yet optimally aligned with it.

Wirtschaftsforum: What are your goals for the future?

Björn Oellrich: We aim to further consolidate our leading position in the three segments. Especially in the healthcare sector, we see ourselves as an indispensable partner. Even though modular construction is still a niche product, we view it as a serious alternative to conventional construction. Through our future-oriented orientation and specialization in high-quality, fast, and sustainable construction methods, we are well equipped to meet market challenges and continue to grow successfully.