klessheim tourism schools

urban design concept
the tourism school in klessheim aims to be the best tourism school in europe. the competition brief outlines the pedagogical visions of the salzburg chamber of commerce as client, emphasizing modern teaching and learning methods, the integration of instruction and leisure, internationality, sustainability, and building requirements regarding functionality, cost-effectiveness, and energy and ecological standards. these high standards for the new facilities cannot be uncompromisingly achieved in the older part of the existing structures. a new building provides the opportunity to meet all desired qualities at the highest level. the partial demolition of the sports building also allows an urban opening toward the northeast, connecting to the lush green space of the mühlbach with a view axis toward klessheim castle. the concept proposes two building structures aligned with the direction of the existing boys’ dormitory. the new buildings flank the dormitory on both sides and create a new interconnected whole via two glass-covered walkways that utilize openings in the existing structure. northeast of the boys’ dormitory, a new generous outdoor campus emerges, echoing the existing courtyard, with large covered areas and the previously mentioned opening toward klessheim castle. southeast of the boys’ dormitory, the new international school is situated at the beginning of klessheimerstraße, emphasizing the international orientation of the tourism school. this location allows independent phased construction and offers high potential for future expansion. starting from the international school, a rain-protected pathway, the new school promenade, runs along klessheimerstraße, connecting the three building components. from this promenade, all areas of the tourism school are accessible, including bicycle and moped parking.

building structure
northwest of the boys’ dormitory, a compact building structure accommodates the higher tourism school, the tourism college, and the institute of tourism and hotel management. three courtyards are carved into this structure, clearly defining gastronomy, library, and business areas on the ground floor. directly at the entrance are the multifunctional auditorium with large seating arena, library, student common rooms, and adjacent buffet. these areas define the indoor campus, a space for events of all kinds, a meeting point for all students; it invites sitting and observing, serves as a recreation, play, and learning space, and ensures good orientation within the building. the indoor campus spatial concept reflects the school spirit: openness, clarity, orientability, connectivity, generosity, and light-filled friendliness. during warm seasons, dining halls, auditorium, library, buffet, and student common rooms can open to covered outdoor areas, allowing eating or relaxing outdoors and working in open-air studios. the first floor is dedicated to teaching, with all learning rooms, classrooms, and “cool rooms” arranged clearly. rooms can be combined into units of varying size, and work islands and multifunctional group rooms create open spatial structures. terraces adjacent to classrooms allow immediate transition outdoors for teaching, learning, playing, or relaxing.

the second floor exclusively houses the girls’ dormitory, with all rooms opening directly onto intimate terraces and generous outdoor spaces for communal activities. the dormitory entrance, also serving as a practice reception, is located at the street-facing end; single-flight staircases at both ends lead directly into the dormitory without passing through the school.

traffic
under both new buildings, a total of 86 car parking spaces are provided. additional required spaces are located in a tree-shaded lot between the boys’ dormitory and the international school, including two handicapped spaces. all access to and from parking spaces is from klessheimerstraße. kitchen deliveries are also routed from klessheimerstraße to the southwest corner of the school to avoid interference with other school areas.

structural concept
to allow maximum internal flexibility, load-bearing walls are used only as necessary for horizontal bracing. structural elements are reinforced concrete columns and slabs, partially with reinforced concrete beams to increase spans and maximize interior flexibility. uppermost ceilings are predominantly prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels with acoustic milling (e.g., girls’ dormitory), enabling a high degree of prefabrication and rapid construction.

material concept
material selection emphasizes ecological footprint and co₂ emissions from production, transport, and disposal. the energy concept relies on passive optimization, including minimal use of suspended ceilings to utilize available thermal mass. acoustic measures are integrated into the mass (acoustic milling in solid wood ceilings) or applied as acoustic sails/baffles to maintain the effectiveness of concrete slabs. classrooms have wooden floors to enhance sitting or play surfaces; other rooms receive coatings or synthetic flooring as required. façades are ventilated with wooden cladding, windows are wood-aluminum constructions, and green roofs absorb and delay heat input, contributing to thermal stabilization. latent cooling occurs during soil moisture evaporation. transparent surfaces have effective external sun protection; some cantilevered building parts provide shade at high sun angles. trees in front of façades add additional shading.

fire safety and escape routes
the escape route concept is clear and well-structured. two end single-flight staircases serve as protected escape staircases, and two additional escape routes from the recessed terraces lead toward the boys’ dormitory. the international school has two outdoor escape staircases, also serving as short connections from the theory floor to outdoor spaces.