academic secondary school (ahs) sonnenallee

urban planning aspects
the layout and positioning of the building are guided by three objectives: the creation of clear building lines along sonnenallee and seestadtstraße, the provision of a spacious forecourt to serve as the school’s main entrance, and the development of the largest possible sheltered school playground whilst preserving the existing trees. the building relates equally to both streets, whilst the recessed entrance area on the ground floor emphasises the main entrance. cantilevered upper floors provide shelter from the weather and extend the street space. transparent areas in the entrance zone allow views into the school garden. the two historic trees, the last remaining reminders of aspern airport, are preserved and, framed by the building, are moved to the centre of the school. the sequence of entrance, assembly hall and outdoor space creates a clear connection between inside and outside, as well as between the new and the existing. a high entrance level with two teaching levels above it reflects the clear vertical structure of the organisation.

architectural and functional aspects
the school is guided by the principles of contemporary educational spaces and offers flexible structures that foster community, individuality and open forms of learning. open spaces form part of the educational concept; the teaching areas are flanked by outdoor spaces that can be used directly, allowing for a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. the covered forecourt encourages interaction and exchange. views through the building and vertical openings facilitate orientation and strengthen the sense of belonging. rooms of various sizes are available for events, ranging from seminar areas to an open-plan layout comprising the entrance, assembly hall, library, reading staircase and sports halls, complemented by the school garden for outdoor celebrations. divisible rooms and movable partition walls allow for a variety of group sizes and teaching formats. open learning zones along the circulation routes offer additional workspaces. strategic daylighting via roof glazing brings zenithal light into deeper areas and supports the bright, transparent atmosphere. a diverse range of spaces, sports areas and experimental gardens create optimal conditions for all-day use.

internal organisation
the ground floor houses the public areas for arrival, interaction and communal activities. the central hall visually connects the school garden with the upper floors and serves as a space for eating, learning and making music. the lower secondary clusters and their departments are located on the first floor, whilst the upper secondary level is organised on the second floor with its own areas and homebases. the administration and teaching staff are centrally located on the first floor and are well connected to all parts of the school from there. great importance is placed on the clusters’ direct access to open spaces, which are situated immediately in front of them and also lead to the garden via short routes.

materiality
to ensure a high degree of flexibility, load-bearing walls are reduced to the minimum structurally necessary. in the choice of materials, the focus is on ecological criteria such as co₂ emissions, transport and deconstruction. classrooms and learning zones are fitted with wooden floors that can also be used as communal areas. the top floor is constructed using lightweight timber framing, whilst the façades are designed as rear-ventilated timber structures with timber-aluminium windows. external sunshades and trees in front of the façade provide additional shade, complemented by green façades, particularly facing the school playground.

aspects of resource-efficient management
resource-efficient operations utilise geothermal energy, solar gain and internal heat recovery. electricity from the public grid is offset by photovoltaics wherever possible, with the electricity generated on-site being used primarily within the building itself. even during construction, the use of co₂-intensive materials such as concrete and steel is deliberately reduced and decreases from the ground floor upwards. the roof above the second floor is constructed using solid timber and is counted as a biogenic co₂ sink. in addition to necessary concrete components in the basement and in the cores, renewable raw materials such as wood, hemp, clay and sheep’s wool are increasingly used. the lower levels are constructed using cost-effective solid timber construction with flat slabs and point supports, partly using hollow-core construction to save on materials. the top level is constructed using lightweight timber construction with clt slabs; the foundations are provided by a waterproofing structure; the gymnasium is spanned by prestressed concrete beams; and the building’s bracing is ensured by solid walls.