The new three-storey office building in Horn marks a pioneering milestone for Graf Holztechnik in sustainable and innovative workplace design. After more than thirty years in a temporary container complex, the entire staff has now moved into a modern timber building providing 3,000 m² of workspace for more than 100 employees.

Concept

The new building embodies sustainability, architectural quality, and functionality. For Graf Holztechnik, it was only natural to choose timber construction — the benefits and know-how are part of the company’s DNA. The dry construction method enabled fast progress and was carried out efficiently by the company’s own construction specialists.

Architecture and structural solutions

The building, designed by SPS Architekten, impresses with its spacious and open layout. At its heart lies a striking, twelve-meter-high, light-filled atrium featuring elegant Sylva™ CLT staircases made of exposed mass timber, creating a vibrant hub for communication. The walls, ceilings, and stair stringers were all constructed using high-quality, double-coated mass timber. 

The Sylva CLT walls, standing over three metres tall (XL format), and the large, coated Sylva ceiling elements (more than 100 m²) create a warm, natural atmosphere and set new standards for modern, sustainable construction.

“The reasons for using hydrophobic coatings were not only to achieve more uniform surfaces for a consistent overall appearance, but also to minimize contamination and allow easier cleaning during construction, to ensure simple maintenance after completion, and to reduce post-yellowing caused by UV radiation,” says Roland Ernst, Head of Timber Construction at Graf Holztechnik.

Functionality and space planning

Spread over three floors, the building offers employees around 40 offices along with generous meeting and social spaces. The flexible layout accommodates more than 100 individually designed workplaces, fostering both open communication and focused work.

Sustainability and certification

The new building is designed to meet the highest environmental standards and is aiming to achieve the prestigious ÖGNI Gold certification (Austrian Society for Sustainable Real Estate Management).

With this new office building, Leyrer + Graf became the first Austrian construction company to receive an ÖGNI award for a ‘Sustainable construction site’. Green façade elements, extensive timber surfaces, electric vehicle charging stations, and ample bicycle parking highlight the project’s comprehensive sustainability approach. The consistent use of PEFC-certified wood contributes to a strong sustainability performance and a healthy indoor environment.

With its new headquarters in Horn, Graf Holztechnik has created more than just an architectural landmark — it has established a forward-looking workplace that puts people, sustainability, and quality first. The building serves as a showcase for sustainable timber construction in Austria and highlights the company’s commitment to innovation.

About the architects

sps÷architekten is renowned for its innovative approach to architecture, blending creativity with sustainability to create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Their projects range from residential buildings to large-scale commercial and industrial constructions, often using mass timber and other sustainable materials.

Notable projects include Agricultural centre Maishofen, Eco Pavilion, Nordic World Ski Championships, and CIS - Centre for Inclusion and Special Education.

“We take great pride in our bravery to embark on this large-scale project, genuinely making a significant impact. Our sustainability goals are ambitious and achieving them requires taking bold actions; minor adjustments won’t suffice. Through this initiative, we also aim to set an example and motivate others in the industry to pursue a similar direction”, says architect Simon Speigner.

About the contractors

Leyrer + Graf Baugesellschaft m.b.H was responsible for the building construction, civil engineering, and energy and telecommunications services for this project.

Leyrer + Graf was founded in 1926 by Dipl.-Ing. Anton Leyrer and now led by the Graf family, is one of Austria’s leading construction companies. With around 2,700 employees across 18 locations, the company excels in building construction, civil engineering, and energy and telecommunications services.