von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects 01 Press release 2017-11-02 Learning in Dialog with Old and New gmp completes the school building of the Cultural and Educational Center in Alsdorf The school building of the new Cultural and Educational Center in Alsdorf has been completed to designs by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp). The building consists of two mirrored horseshoe-shaped tracts, and combines a grammar school and a secondary school under one roof. The new building reflects a dialog with the historic power station and functions as a new cultural focus between the inner city and the neighboring residential quarter. For further information please contact: Claudia Tiesler T +49.40.88 151 123 ctiesler@gmp-architekten.de www.gmp-architekten.de PR & Communications Elbchaussee 139 22763 Hamburg Germany T +49.40.88 151 0 F +49.40.88 151 177 communication@ gmp-architekten.de www.gmp-architekten.de
Page 2 of 7 The architectural concept links the two schools in one formal unit: two U-shaped tracts are laid out facing each other, creating differentiated interior areas. Also integrated at a lower level are three single-court gymnasiums and their ancillary functions. They are covered by walk-on roof areas which serve as integrated recreation areas. From an urban design point of view, a public passageway through the school building creates a visual and functional axis that strengthens the socio-cultural exchange between grammar school, secondary school, and the neighboring residential quarter. The two school tracts are accessed via their own entrance foyers in order to foster the students identification with their own institution. The horizontal emphasis of the buildings is expressed in the design of the facades. Surface-mounted bright fenestration bands provide a structure to the dark, solid building fabric. With the help of the compact design and a number of energy conservation measures, such as the omission of cooling systems, the installation of pellet heating systems, LED lighting throughout, roof greening, and solar energy harnessing, the requirements of the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV) were improved on by 30 percent. The grammar school curriculum has been devised in accordance with the Dalton Plan of Education. This educational plan sees the school as a place for learning as well as for gaining life experience, and the architectural concept reflects this approach; a high degree of flexibility within the building supports the idea of teaching in shared units and of supporting individual groups. Independent working and learning is promoted in open self-learning zones, the responsibility for the design of which lies with the students. Seating niches in the corridors provide space for spontaneous get-togethers, both for personal exchanges and for working in small groups. Generous views of the exterior landscape and a high degree of natural lighting support the principle of free learning and the overarching educational concept. This guiding principle is further enhanced by the omission of fencing; instead, partial linear planting provides orientation and a structure to the overall ensemble. The rooms are clearly arranged, and their functions can be modified to suit personal requirements. The upper floors contain 32 learning rooms and six specialist rooms for chemistry, physics, and biology. The first and mezzanine floors provide space for the administration, as well as three art rooms and two music rooms. The arrangement of the secondary school tract largely reflects that of the grammar school. Owing to the different learning approach, the upper floors contain a total of 18 classrooms and rooms for media and specialist subjects.
Page 3 of 7 VOF negotiation procedure 2011 Design Volkwin Marg and Nikolaus Goetze with Marc Ziemons Project management, overall design Carsten Plog Project management, project design Michael Gutena Competition design team Jan Blasko, Matthias Heck, Mei Pan, Alexandra Schinke, Oliver König, Urs Wedekind, Karsten Schillings Detail design team Matthias von Hanstein, Matthias Heck, Alexandra Schinke, Alexander Schnieber, Kathrin Schnieber, Karl-Heinz Behrendt, Urs Wedekind, Adrian Fuhrich, Raimund Kinski, Volker Bastian, Daniel O Hare Structural design Wetzel & von Seht Services installations Phases 2-7, ZWP Ingenieur AG Services installations Phases 8-9, TGA Stickel services engineers Fire protection T. Wackermann GbR consulting engineers Lighting design a.g. licht GbR Landscape design WES & Partner GmbH Site supervision Höhler + Partner GmbH Project control Ernst & Young Real Estate GmbH Client GSG Grund- und Stadtentwicklung Alsdorf GmbH GFA New building 16,482 m², of which 13,567 m² above ground and 2,915 m² below ground Construction period 2014-2017
Page 4 of 7 02 03 04 To download high resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 01 View from north-west Marcus Bredt 02 Facade with fenestration bands Marcus Bredt 03 Entrance foyer Marcus Bredt 04 Integrated recreation area Marcus Bredt
Page 5 of 7 05 06 07 08 To download high resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 05 Single-court gymnasium Marcus Bredt 06 Color-based orientation scheme Marcus Bredt 07 Openly designed school corridors Marcus Bredt 08 Recreation and self-learning areas Marcus Bredt
Page 6 of 7 09 10 11 12 To download high resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 09 Site plan gmp Architects 10 North-west elevation gmp Architects 11 First floor layout gmp Architects 12 Upper floor layout gmp Architects
Page 7 of 7 Please note Free-of-charge publication is only permitted as an editorial contribution on the architecture of architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) in the context of this press release. A complete naming of the authors of the picture and plan material in clear assignment is obligatory. Should you intend to use the material in any other way, you are obliged to clarify any issues of copyright and right of use directly and independently with the photographers. If you are a product manufacturer, supplier or contractor and are interested in using the image material, please contact us and the photographer. We kindly ask to send a reference copy to the PR contact as stated. gmp von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects PR & Communications Claudia Tiesler Elbchaussee 139 22763 Hamburg Germany T +49.40.88 151 123 ctiesler@gmp-architekten.de www.gmp-architekten.de