News

Haus am Steinitzsee: Design and Engineering

LaufsED is pleased to present Haus am Stienitzsee, a recently completed family home on the shore of Stienitzsee, east of Berlin.

Designed around two offset concrete volumes, the house combines exposed concrete, timber and high-performance glazing with an integrated approach to energy and building envelope design. Its double-shell concrete walls conceal mineral wool insulation between inner and outer layers, allowing the material to remain visible on both sides.

LaufsED provided architectural design, structural and façade engineering, and on-site project supervision, bringing the architectural concept and technical execution together.

Photography by Stefan Müller.

Obama Presidential Library – Monumental Stair

LaufsED is proud to have provided detailed engineering for the monumental stair located within the tower lobby of the new Obama Presidential Library in Chicago. Working closely with the project team, our scope included the structural steel framing for the stair, glass guardrail assemblies with custom bronze cladding and handrails, as well as the bronze wall panel support systems, contributing to a refined architectural feature at the heart of the building.

The stair structure was carefully engineered to balance architectural expression with structural performance. Pinned support connections were incorporated to accommodate building movements and avoid introducing unintended stiffening effects into the primary structure. The stair features fabricated steel plate treads supporting wood finishes, while the integrated glass and bronze detailing required close coordination to achieve the project's high standards of craftsmanship and precision.

ETFE Canopy Installation at Etihad Stadium in New York

Construction is progressing rapidly at New York City Football Club’s new stadium at Willets Point in Queens, adjacent to the iconic Citi Field. Scheduled to open for the 2027 season, the venue reflects the continued growth of soccer in the United States and will become NYCFC’s first purpose-built home stadium.

Working alongside architect HOK and Turner Construction, LaufsED is supporting the project through QA/QC inspections of the ETFE roof canopy during construction. The lightweight, single-layer ETFE system is supported by tensioned stainless steel cables and is designed to provide weather protection for spectators while maintaining a bright, naturally lit environment beneath the canopy.

Rendering courtesy of HOK

The Lindemann Performing Arts Center Opens

The new Lindemann PAC at Brown University, designed by award-winning architecture firm REX has officially opened to the public. Laufs Engineering Design provided specialty glass engineering services for the contractor team, supporting the development and execution of the project’s complex façade and glazing details.

Working closely with the project team, LaufsED assisted in resolving challenging interface, fabrication, and constructability conditions throughout the installation process. The completed building showcases a highly refined envelope integrating architectural ambition with technical precision.

All photos courtesy of the architect.

Senna Tower: Soon to be the Tallest Residential Tower in the World

Rising rapidly in Balneário Camboriú in Brazil, Senna Tower is set to surpass 550 meters, positioning it to become the tallest residential building in the world. Inspired by the ambition and legacy of celebrated F1 driver Ayrton Senna, the project channels a sense of performance and precision into its design, pushing the boundaries of contemporary high-rise construction.

We recently visited the site, where construction is already underway, to take part in a series of focused design workshops addressing both the façade system and the complex geometry of the specialty crown. Working alongside Talls Solutions, discussions centered on resolving the technical demands inherent in projects of this scale, from material performance at height to constructability and integration across disciplines.

During the visit, Will Laufs also spoke to an audience of local developers, contractors, and façade specialists, sharing insights drawn from more than two decades of international high-rise experience. LaufsED’s role on the project includes façade engineering as well as the design and development of the tower’s distinctive crown, contributing to both its performance and identity on the skyline.

New Glasshouse Conservatory at Longwood Gardens

LaufsED is proud to have contributed to the stunning new 2,900m² glasshouse conservatory at Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, the conservatory features a striking crystalline form with a pleated glass roof supported by curved, non-repetitive steel moment frames.

Fabricated in Germany, the tree-like steel structure was assembled on-site and tilted into place. Operable windows, automated shading, and winter louvers ensure optimal climate control year-round, safeguarding the unique plant collection, including a garden by celebrated Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx—the only one of its kind in North America.

LaufsED provided design-assist façade structural engineering services, including structural calculations, detailing, and thermal performance assessments, with a focus on corrosion protection and durability to meet the project's high standards.

EarthNest Sculpture opens in Berlin

LaufsED are proud to have supported specialty metal fabricator Fittkau with structural engineering for EarthNest; Berlin’s first memorial to decolonialization. The design is by The Lockward Collective with advisors Rolando Vázquez & Max Bentler.

EarthNest is an open, bronze nest that invites visitors to engage with decolonial resistance. It honours the peoples and territories affected by the violence of colonialism and speaks out for healing the wounds that have resulted from our colonial past. It is intended to be a place of remembrance and encounter.

Earthnest is now open to the public in front of the Berlin Global Village in Neukölln.

Three New Treehouses Installed at Chatwal Lodge

The Chatwal Lodge, set in the scenic Catskill Mountains of the Lower Hudson Valley, is a collection of luxury hotel structures offering an unparalleled retreat. LaufsED provided architectural and structural engineering services for the newly completed treehouse structures. Designed by the German firm Baumraum, the three treehouses were installed by a skilled local team, harmonizing innovative design with the natural landscape.

Momentum sculpture opens in Emeryville, CA

LaufsED provided structural engineering expertise for five mirrored stainless steel spires, each seamlessly integrating video screens that project dynamic light displays. This striking installation serves as a welcome sculpture at the Emeryville, CA campus of a company pioneering immunological therapies for cancer treatment. Titled Momentum, the artwork symbolizes the global impact of cancer and stands as a powerful reminder of our collective fight against the disease.

Kingspan Microhome – Live On Top

LaufsED have completed the design and engineering for a rooftop microhome with a unitized structure comprised of structural CLT and Kingspan insulated cladding panels.

Live On Top aims to provide affordable housing with amazing views by utilizing available rooftop space in crowded cities. Kingspan Quadcore panels are preassembled onto CLT structural boards in modules sized to fit into a typical residential elevator. The modules can be quickly assembled on the roof using lightweight equipment.

Live On Top has three core sustainable strategies:

1. Upfront carbon is significantly reduced by plugging into the existing building infrastructure.

2. Extra building occupants pay into ongoing building maintenance providing economic and social benefit to the community and extending the lifespan of the building.

3. Densifying urban areas by utilizing existing footprints reduces the need for greenfield development for housing.