Honourable Mention: Competition Lessing-Gymnasium Neu-Ulm
Architecture
The defining feature of the design is its compactness, resulting from the L-shaped arrangement. The alternating heights of the individual building sections, together with the covered walkways surrounding the building and their diamond-shaped cladding, give the compact structure a sense of lightness. The two upper floors appear to float above the generously glazed base. This cladding is interrupted only in the area of the upper-school courtyard, allowing access to it.
The building’s elevated position on a platform above the bicycle parking facility, together with the projecting fins that provide shade for the lower schoolyard, reinforces this light, floating appearance.
School Building
The compact design continues inside the building. The assembly hall, the “heart” of the school, is centrally located and extends through the void up to the second floor, terminating in a glazed roof that ensures optimum daylight. From this central space, the circulation route runs around the building to the individual clusters and leads to the upper floors via the stair cores.
On the ground floor, the assembly hall is connected to the music rooms, stage area and the cafeteria with serving area and kitchenette. These spaces can be flexibly combined using movable partition walls. The other specialist subject clusters are also located on the ground floor.
The two upper floors are reserved for classrooms with adjoining marketplaces and all-day learning rooms. The marketplaces and all-day rooms face the centrally located light wells, while the classrooms are oriented toward the external façades. The classrooms feature folding glass walls and can be opened toward the marketplace when required. The marketplace itself can be arranged flexibly using movable furniture.
Lockers, cloakrooms and shelving for storing school bags are located in the respective classrooms. Each cluster has its own sanitary facilities.
The administration and staff-room cluster is located in the central zone on the first floor, making it easy to find, for example for parent meetings. From the staff room on the first floor, both schoolyards can be seen and supervised.
Adjacent to this area is the upper-school centre, with upper-school classrooms, the upper-school coordinator’s office and a common room. The upper-school library is located beside the light well and is therefore separate from the lower- and middle-school library, which is situated one floor higher.
Locating the upper-school centre on the first floor gives pupils direct access to their schoolyard.
Bicycle Parking Facility
To provide the required 600 bicycle parking spaces, the bicycle parking facility is designed as a split-level structure. Both levels can be reached via two ramps with a 10% gradient. The facility is also accessed via centrally located staircases.
On the side facing the courtyard, a passage leads from the school building to the sports hall, allowing users to move between the buildings while being protected from the weather. The central location of the bicycle parking spaces also makes it possible to monitor the area and help prevent theft. Closing off the area during teaching hours is another possible option.
Sports Halls
The entrance area of the sports hall accommodates the cloakroom, ticket office and waiting area. A gallery allows spectators to watch sporting events. The three sports halls and their adjoining equipment rooms can be reached via the stairways leading down to the changing rooms in the basement.
Another sports hall is located on the FOS/BOS campus. The hall, together with its equipment rooms, changing rooms and washrooms, is located in the basement. The entrance area, with ticket office, seating and toilets, is accessible at ground level. A spectator stand can also be reached from here.
An all-weather sports field is additionally located on the roof and can be accessed via two central stairwells.
