The population of Sankt Georgen an der Stiefing is growing – and with it the number of pupils at the existing St. Georgen an der Stiefing elementary school. With the construction of a new all-day school (GTS), the elementary school will now have new space for all-day care and a new workshop.

Building with existing structures

The design of the new building is the result of a single-stage implementation competition held in 2021. The single-story new building blends seamlessly into the ensemble of existing buildings and continues its volumetric interplay by adopting the sloping roofs characteristic of the existing structures. Inside, the sloping roofs remain visible, creating a spacious feel. The extension connects seamlessly to the existing elementary school and kindergarten buildings and contains a GTS room, a workshop, a barrier-free toilet, and a technical room on a total net floor space of 270m².

Inside and outside

The common rooms are generously lit by floor-to-ceiling windows, while external sun protection and an additional pergola facing southwest minimize direct sunlight. Barrier-free open terraces in front of the common rooms allow lessons to be moved outside. Seating steps and staircases lead from the open terraces to the garden, allowing the open terraces to be used as break rooms. The outdoor areas are landscaped and equipped with trees, bushes, hedges, and learning furniture.

Wood as a building material

The building was constructed using wood, and the facade and pitched roof insulation consist of sustainable wood fiber insulation boards. Wood and wood-based materials were also used for the interior surfaces. A total of approximately 55% of the building components were made from renewable raw materials (wood-based materials). The curtain wall facade made of fiber cement panels continues the facade design of the existing elementary school and has a single-material structure, which allows for the reuse of all building materials.

Energy self-sufficiency

The new GTS building is energy self-sufficient: heating and cooling are provided by an air heat pump and underfloor heating, and the electricity required for this is generated by PV modules on the pitched roofs. Surplus electricity is fed into an electricity storage system and used to heat the existing elementary school (electric underfloor heating) when needed. A planned electric charging station in the area of the existing angled parking spaces can also be supplied in the future.