Modern charging infrastructure with timber canopy in St. Marienkirchen (AT)

With the SMATRICS EnBW charging park Suben in St. Marienkirchen near Schärding, a high-performance site for cross-border e‑mobility between Austria and Germany has been created. Located close to the A8 Innkreis motorway, the charging park has been offering ten high-power charging points since January 2026, serving as an important mobility hub in the Upper Austrian–Bavarian border region.
The canopy was realized as a modular timber construction system solution as part of a joint venture between the German energy provider EnBW and the Austrian company SMATRICS, combining architectural quality with economic and technical efficiency.

Modular system solution above foundation level

The structure is part of a timber construction system developed by HASSLACHER Building Solutions and applied by EnBW and SMATRICS. The system allows single- and double-row canopy types with up to 32 parking spaces. From structural design and detailed planning to complete execution including additional trades, the HASSLACHER group was responsible for the complete timber construction solution above foundation level.

Glued laminated timber structure for the charging park canopy

The visible load-bearing structure consists of approximately 3.6 cubic metres of glued laminated timber made from spruce, with a strength class of GL24h. Manufactured at the Hermagor production site (HASSLACHER Holzbausysteme GmbH), the glued laminated timber structure fulfils the primary structural function of the charging park canopy. The planar roof structure and bracing level are formed by cross-laminated timber panels with a thickness of 120 mm and a strength class of C26E11.8. These panels were manufactured at the Stall im Mölltal site (NORITEC Holzindustrie GmbH) and are rigidly connected to the glued laminated timber beams.

HASSLACHER glued laminated timber is manufactured according to European Technical Assessment ETA‑12/0281 in two strength classes, both offering high load-bearing capacity and stiffness. These mechanical properties enable slim structural elements and contribute to efficient use of resources.

The combination of glued laminated timber and cross-laminated timber panels ensures high load-bearing performance, dimensional stability and efficient factory prefabrication, which are key factors for scalable charging infrastructure projects.

As an additional service, steel components for the structure were produced at the company’s in-house steel fabrication facility in Stall im Mölltal.

Roof structure made of cross-laminated timber with integrated photovoltaic system

The roof structure is complemented by an on-roof photovoltaic system with an output of 14.56 kWp. The combination of glued laminated timber structure, cross-laminated timber roof elements and photovoltaic technology unites sustainable material selection with active energy generation and supports a resource-efficient construction approach.
In addition to the timber structure, the HASSLACHER group coordinated all subcontractor services. These included galvanized and coated steel columns, roof waterproofing with drainage, parapet cladding, as well as integrated illuminated signage with lettering and light bands.

Holistic timber construction system solution for charging stations

The modular system canopy protects vehicles, charging infrastructure and users from weather conditions while deliberately showcasing visible timber as a key architectural element. The systematic design results in an economically reproducible solution for further charging park locations worldwide. Due to the wide range of system variants, a suitable solution can be implemented for almost any site.

Pilot project with scalable system approach

The SMATRICS EnBW charging park Suben represents the pilot location for further charging parks and serves as the basis for implementation at additional sites. As structural design, construction details and planning documents of the timber construction system solution are fully available, future projects within the cooperation with the HASSLACHER group can be realized immediately after building permit approval without any additional development phase.

The charging park Suben thus forms the pilot site for further charging parks within the EnBW and SMATRICS charging network and serves as the foundation for the subsequent rollout of additional locations.