RMA Rheinau GmbH & Co. KG has responded to the growing demand for affordable housing, which is considered a critical factor for attracting and retaining skilled workers. A two-and-a-half-storey residential building, comprising a total of eight dwelling units for apprentices and employees, was realised at the company's Rheinau headquarters. The concept and implementation were carried out in cooperation with WeberHaus.
The decision to invest in its own employee accommodation was driven by the increasing shortage of affordable housing in the region. Andreas Truttenbach, Managing Director of RMA, explained that given the necessary search for skilled workers beyond the immediate region, the company regards the issue of accommodation for new employees as increasingly important. Previously rented apartments led to high administrative effort, and the RMA site is also only partially accessible by public transport. This led to the necessity of creating accommodation directly at the company headquarters.
Diverse Living Arrangements and Support Programmes
The newly constructed building offers various living arrangements tailored to different life situations. For apprentices, apartments with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a communal lounge area were designed. Additionally, compact one-room apartments and two-room apartments are available, which are also suitable for employees with partners or families. Managing Director Truttenbach emphasised that employee accommodation is essential for any growth-oriented company, as it significantly facilitates the start for new colleagues within the company and the region.
The project development was supported by a funding programme from the L-Bank for companies that create housing for their employees. This programme promotes construction, among other things, through interest-subsidised loans. A prerequisite for this is the construction of energy-efficient and sustainable homes that meet the requirements of the Neubaustandard Plus (New Build Standard Plus). These criteria aligned with the chosen timber prefabricated construction method and the sustainability aspirations of the RMA project.
Sustainability and Efficiency in Timber Prefabricated Construction
RMA consciously opted for timber prefabricated construction. Andreas Truttenbach stressed that wood as a building material fits well with the company's sustainability strategy. The two-and-a-half-storey building with a gabled roof is also equipped with a photovoltaic system for regenerative electricity generation. A significant advantage of timber prefabricated construction manifested itself in the short construction time. Wall, ceiling, and roof elements were industrially prefabricated and then assembled on site. Within eight days, the building was enclosed and weatherproof, allowing the interior fit-out to commence immediately in dry conditions.
In addition to the short assembly time, timber prefabricated construction offers high planning certainty and consistent execution quality due to precise prefabrication. The highly insulated building envelope contributes to high energy efficiency. Wood, as a renewable building material that binds carbon, also aligns with the project's sustainability objectives. For its implementation, RMA chose WeberHaus as a regional partner, whose competitive offer and regional ties were decisive. Arndt Kückenthal, Sales Manager for WeberHaus Commercial Building, underlined the growing importance of employee accommodation as a response to the competition for skilled workers and the housing challenge.
With the completed residential building, RMA is responding to the changing conditions in the labour and housing markets. Short distances between home and workplace facilitate the start for new employees and apprentices and reduce reliance on individual modes of transport. The project thus represents an investment in the company's development and demonstrates how companies can contribute to creating affordable housing and combine skilled worker retention, sustainable construction, and regional cooperation.
