In a move that signals the future of both cultural preservation and advanced building management, Siemens AG has announced a landmark partnership with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) to fully digitalize the world-renowned Pergamon Altar.
While the project is a triumph of immersive art utilizing photorealistic 3D graphics and AI-powered avatars for the HVACR and building technology sectors, it represents a masterclass in the application of High-Fidelity Digital Twins to manage the delicate environmental balance of historical infrastructure.
Beyond a Virtual Tour: The Engineering of a Digital Replica
The Pergamon Altar, a 2nd-century BC masterpiece, is currently ensconced within a museum undergoing a decades-long, multi-billion-euro renovation. To provide access during this closure, Siemens is integrating hundreds of thousands of high-resolution images and laser-scan data points into a real-time 3D environment.
From a technical standpoint, this is not just “digital art.” The level of detail achieved allows for:
- Structural Monitoring: The digital twin provides a baseline for monitoring structural shifts or degradation in the marble during the physical renovation of the building.
- Thermal and Airflow Simulation: By creating a geometrically perfect replica, engineers can use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) within the digital twin to simulate how new air-handling systems will interact with the altar’s complex friezes.
- Predictive Preservation: The AI avatars are not just for history; the underlying data platform can be linked to museum sensors to predict how humidity spikes from visitor traffic might affect the stone.
The Intersection of Building X and Antiquity
The digitalization project coincides with the broader modernization of the Pergamon Museum’s building services. While specialized ventilation experts like Kiefer Klimatechnik are handling the intricate air distribution (using displacement diffusers to minimize dust and drafts), the “brain” of the operation remains a digital-first strategy.
Siemens is leveraging its Xcelerator portfolio, specifically the Building X platform, to bridge the gap between the virtual altar and the physical facility. This “single source of truth” allows facility managers to monitor the “micro-climate” surrounding the monument in real-time, ensuring that the 2,000-year-old stone remains within strict temperature and RH (Relative Humidity) parameters.
Why This Matters for the HVACR Industry
For the modern HVACR professional, the Pergamon project is a case study in Asset Lifecycle Management. By digitalizing the most critical asset (the Altar), the museum is effectively creating a “living laboratory.”
“We are turning digitalization into a time machine,” said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Digital Industries. “But more than that, we are ensuring that a World Heritage Site becomes accessible and protected through the same digital twin technology we use to optimize carbon-neutral factories and smart cities.”
The interactive digital 3D access is slated to launch in 2026, acting as a high-tech bridge until the museum’s North Wing and the physical Altar hall officially reopen to the public in 2027.