darmstadtium

Excavation pit of the darmstadtium with marked fault.
Photo: Webcam (TU Darmstadt)
Section through darmstadtium and subsurface
Picture: Katzenbach (TU Darmstadt)

The darmstadtium is situated at a geologically very interesting place, directly above the eastern main edge fault of the Oberrheingraben. Thus one part of the building stands on the solid crystalline rock of the Odenwald, the other part on the soft sediments of the Upper Rhine Graben. This placed special demands on the construction planning and statics in order to avoid damage to the building caused by different settlements. The foundation plate in the area of the Upper Rhine Graben was therefore founded on piles.