urban design concept
the challenge of the brief lies in implementing the extensive program required by the competition, including demonstrating future expansion possibilities, while simultaneously maximizing contiguous open spaces and creating permeability and connectivity between innrain and innrain promenade.
by positioning the new building volumes, the currently incomplete university ensemble is completed, and a closure corresponding to the northwest buildings is created at the southeast end of the historic university. an elevated outdoor campus enables the creation of an attractive, spacious green open space with important sightlines and connections between the inn promenade and innrain. this landscaped area complements the natural park topographically and maintains a respectful distance from the new building volume to the neobaroque main building. the creation of two balanced access and circulation levels gives both the lecture hall center and the library/cafeteria a corresponding presence.
functionally, three interconnected yet independently operating zones emerge:
lecture halls, seminar rooms, study zones, museum, dean’s office, and student union form the two-story base beneath the elevated green level. cafeteria and library are located on the campus level with direct outdoor access; in warm months, the cafeteria and café extend into the attractive outdoor space with views toward the inn and the nordkette. above the campus level, along rechengasse, a three-story volume (levels 2–4) houses research, teaching, and administration. its height aligns with existing buildings along rechengasse and the main building. the angled façade toward the main building, together with christoph-probst-platz, creates a new, large forecourt. the prominent cantilever provides weather-protected zones for the entrance and waiting area at the bus stop.
architectural concept
the architectural design aims to support the university’s spirit: openness, clarity, easy orientation, connectivity, generosity, and light-filled friendliness. circulation areas simultaneously serve as open spaces for gathering, communication, and learning. functional and circulation areas blend seamlessly, and zones are flexibly organized using mobile partitions. archives are accommodated not only in rooms but also in archival cabinets within circulation areas, doubling the use of these spaces. the entire structure follows a 10-meter grid, divisible into 2.5-meter increments, enabling flexible office layouts from small 18 m² units to larger team spaces. the narrowest grid per ÖN A 8010 for three workstations is chosen to achieve an economical façade module for required office units.
targeted daylighting through skylights and light courts illuminates the compact building interior with natural light.
pedestrian and bicycle connections, traffic concept
a pedestrian and bicycle link is established between the new building and the main building from innrain to innrain promenade. generous covered bicycle parking is provided at both the promenade and the main entrance. for pedestrians, a network of connections in all directions and on multiple levels, inside and outside the building, reinforces the university’s open character.
the required lorry access to josef-möller-house, which also connects to the existing geiwi-forum parking deck, integrates with delivery access for the teaching and office building. at the end of rechengasse, this access and entry/exit to the new car park are arranged. the delivery area is lowered, creating the desired loading ramp for kitchen deliveries. adjacent to the ramp, the goods lift serves all floors. here, container spaces, three visitor parking spots, and maneuvering space for waste and small delivery vehicles are located.
open space
a key design objective is maximizing outdoor spaces for students and city users. the extensive elevated campus with the adjacent cafeteria and library provides attractive views in all directions and, together with the generous park surrounding the main building, forms a continuous green space for diverse outdoor activities.
the challenge of the brief lies in implementing the extensive program required by the competition, including demonstrating future expansion possibilities, while simultaneously maximizing contiguous open spaces and creating permeability and connectivity between innrain and innrain promenade.
by positioning the new building volumes, the currently incomplete university ensemble is completed, and a closure corresponding to the northwest buildings is created at the southeast end of the historic university. an elevated outdoor campus enables the creation of an attractive, spacious green open space with important sightlines and connections between the inn promenade and innrain. this landscaped area complements the natural park topographically and maintains a respectful distance from the new building volume to the neobaroque main building. the creation of two balanced access and circulation levels gives both the lecture hall center and the library/cafeteria a corresponding presence.
functionally, three interconnected yet independently operating zones emerge:
lecture halls, seminar rooms, study zones, museum, dean’s office, and student union form the two-story base beneath the elevated green level. cafeteria and library are located on the campus level with direct outdoor access; in warm months, the cafeteria and café extend into the attractive outdoor space with views toward the inn and the nordkette. above the campus level, along rechengasse, a three-story volume (levels 2–4) houses research, teaching, and administration. its height aligns with existing buildings along rechengasse and the main building. the angled façade toward the main building, together with christoph-probst-platz, creates a new, large forecourt. the prominent cantilever provides weather-protected zones for the entrance and waiting area at the bus stop.
architectural concept
the architectural design aims to support the university’s spirit: openness, clarity, easy orientation, connectivity, generosity, and light-filled friendliness. circulation areas simultaneously serve as open spaces for gathering, communication, and learning. functional and circulation areas blend seamlessly, and zones are flexibly organized using mobile partitions. archives are accommodated not only in rooms but also in archival cabinets within circulation areas, doubling the use of these spaces. the entire structure follows a 10-meter grid, divisible into 2.5-meter increments, enabling flexible office layouts from small 18 m² units to larger team spaces. the narrowest grid per ÖN A 8010 for three workstations is chosen to achieve an economical façade module for required office units.
targeted daylighting through skylights and light courts illuminates the compact building interior with natural light.
pedestrian and bicycle connections, traffic concept
a pedestrian and bicycle link is established between the new building and the main building from innrain to innrain promenade. generous covered bicycle parking is provided at both the promenade and the main entrance. for pedestrians, a network of connections in all directions and on multiple levels, inside and outside the building, reinforces the university’s open character.
the required lorry access to josef-möller-house, which also connects to the existing geiwi-forum parking deck, integrates with delivery access for the teaching and office building. at the end of rechengasse, this access and entry/exit to the new car park are arranged. the delivery area is lowered, creating the desired loading ramp for kitchen deliveries. adjacent to the ramp, the goods lift serves all floors. here, container spaces, three visitor parking spots, and maneuvering space for waste and small delivery vehicles are located.
open space
a key design objective is maximizing outdoor spaces for students and city users. the extensive elevated campus with the adjacent cafeteria and library provides attractive views in all directions and, together with the generous park surrounding the main building, forms a continuous green space for diverse outdoor activities.
economic and ecological aspects
low energy demand due to compactness, high envelope insulation, minimal cooling requirements, and abundant daylight results in low operational costs. proposed systems are simple, requiring minimal maintenance. the chosen envelope materials (enameled glass) are durable, proven, and do not require replacement cycles like a plastered façade. sun shading is wind-sensor controlled and adapted to local conditions. material selection emphasizes ecological footprint, co₂ emissions from production, transport, and deconstruction. photovoltaic panels are proposed on sloped skylight roofs.
expansion
for future expansion, the “knowledge tower” is proposed, a slender, tower-like building. the structure can be placed on the existing circular opening of the campus level on minimal columns without altering the competition project or requiring costly preliminary structural measures. depending on height, the tower could accommodate 3,500–4,800 m² gross floor area.
energy concept
overheating prevention via external sun shading combined with NE-SW orientation; shading from existing buildings benefits the SW.
building envelope
a glazed atrium provides compactness. through the atrium roof and façade, solar gains can be targeted or avoided using external shading.
external sun screens allow visual connection to the exterior even when closed.
box-type window elements enable draft-free ventilation and moderate warming during the heating season despite closed screens.
highly insulated envelope and triple glazing minimize heating demand, supported by compactness and positioning of envelope areas relative to the ground.
daylight
reduces electricity demand, operational costs, and co₂ emissions via excellent daylight in workspaces, teaching areas, and central atrium spaces.
daylight reaches the first basement level.
building and air cooling
groundwater use for room cooling via concrete core activation and pre-cooling of ventilation air.
building and air heating
groundwater use for base load heating and air re-heating via heat pump; remaining heat demand covered by district heating.
ventilation
central ventilation unit with heat recovery, co₂ regulation, and variable airflow for lecture halls and seminar rooms.
central ventilation unit with heat recovery for moderate ventilation of administrative and internal rooms, supplying air directly to rooms, acoustically decoupled overflow into corridors, and short exhaust ducts from circulation areas; additional window ventilation in administrative rooms during high occupancy.
preconditioned air via box-type window elements avoids drafts and reduces heating energy demand.
central ventilation with heat recovery for kitchen and dining area.
domestic hot water
central production with fresh water module and circulation for kitchen and nearby users.
decentralized production for remote users via electric instantaneous water heaters.
operational and maintenance costs
low energy demand through compactness, high insulation, low cooling requirement, and good daylighting ensures minimal operational costs.
proposed systems are simple and low-maintenance.
envelope materials (enameled glass) are durable, proven, and require no replacement cycles.
low energy demand due to compactness, high envelope insulation, minimal cooling requirements, and abundant daylight results in low operational costs. proposed systems are simple, requiring minimal maintenance. the chosen envelope materials (enameled glass) are durable, proven, and do not require replacement cycles like a plastered façade. sun shading is wind-sensor controlled and adapted to local conditions. material selection emphasizes ecological footprint, co₂ emissions from production, transport, and deconstruction. photovoltaic panels are proposed on sloped skylight roofs.
expansion
for future expansion, the “knowledge tower” is proposed, a slender, tower-like building. the structure can be placed on the existing circular opening of the campus level on minimal columns without altering the competition project or requiring costly preliminary structural measures. depending on height, the tower could accommodate 3,500–4,800 m² gross floor area.
energy concept
overheating prevention via external sun shading combined with NE-SW orientation; shading from existing buildings benefits the SW.
building envelope
a glazed atrium provides compactness. through the atrium roof and façade, solar gains can be targeted or avoided using external shading.
external sun screens allow visual connection to the exterior even when closed.
box-type window elements enable draft-free ventilation and moderate warming during the heating season despite closed screens.
highly insulated envelope and triple glazing minimize heating demand, supported by compactness and positioning of envelope areas relative to the ground.
daylight
reduces electricity demand, operational costs, and co₂ emissions via excellent daylight in workspaces, teaching areas, and central atrium spaces.
daylight reaches the first basement level.
building and air cooling
groundwater use for room cooling via concrete core activation and pre-cooling of ventilation air.
building and air heating
groundwater use for base load heating and air re-heating via heat pump; remaining heat demand covered by district heating.
ventilation
central ventilation unit with heat recovery, co₂ regulation, and variable airflow for lecture halls and seminar rooms.
central ventilation unit with heat recovery for moderate ventilation of administrative and internal rooms, supplying air directly to rooms, acoustically decoupled overflow into corridors, and short exhaust ducts from circulation areas; additional window ventilation in administrative rooms during high occupancy.
preconditioned air via box-type window elements avoids drafts and reduces heating energy demand.
central ventilation with heat recovery for kitchen and dining area.
domestic hot water
central production with fresh water module and circulation for kitchen and nearby users.
decentralized production for remote users via electric instantaneous water heaters.
operational and maintenance costs
low energy demand through compactness, high insulation, low cooling requirement, and good daylighting ensures minimal operational costs.
proposed systems are simple and low-maintenance.
envelope materials (enameled glass) are durable, proven, and require no replacement cycles.
- location:
- innsbruck, austria
- architecture:
- fasch&fuchs.architekt:innen
- team architecture:
- robert breinesberger, christian daschek, sunhild fritz, fred hofbauer
- structural engineering:
- werkraum ingenieure zt gmbh
- building physics:
- exikon_skins
- model making:
- patrick klammer
- photography:
- manuel schaffernak
- competition:
- 2018