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Passive house standard and accessibility: Darmstadt invests in modern educational infrastructure
With the official opening of the new main building at the Bertolt Brecht School, the city of Darmstadt has reached another milestone in the modernization of its educational infrastructure. Mayor Hanno Benz , City Treasurer André Schellenberg , and Head of School Affairs Holger Klötzner, Sebastian Franke, on Wednesday (May 28) . Tanja Schulz from the Passive House Institute also presented a certificate for the energy-efficient new building.
The three-story building replaces the former main building and was constructed in direct connection with the existing specialist classroom wing from 2011. The new school wing meets modern requirements for accessibility, sustainability, and pedagogical functionality .
“The opening marks a new chapter in the history of the Bertolt Brecht School – a school for equal opportunities and the principle of ‘education for all’,” said Mayor Hanno Benz. The building symbolizes the future and is another building block in the comprehensive expansion of the city’s educational landscape.
City Treasurer André Schellenberg also emphasizes the exemplary nature of the project: "The stage in the auditorium, which can be used from both sides, the barrier-free room concept, and the energy-efficient construction set standards. We expect the planned monitoring to provide important insights for future construction projects."
School superintendent Holger Klötzner sees the new building as a place of community and inspiration: "Here young people can grow, learn and develop."
Architecture with vision
The new building was constructed as an almost square, flat-roofed structure with a two-story, wraparound balcony providing both escape and sun protection . The facade consists of generous window areas, wooden panels, and ventilation elements. Access is via a newly designed schoolyard, for which an old outbuilding was demolished.
Inside, two elevators , accessible restrooms, and a well-designed spatial concept ensure inclusion and functionality. All departmental rooms and the administration offices are accessible without barriers. The auditorium is accessible via a portable ramp.
Even in the preliminary planning stages, there was close coordination with the historic preservation authorities . Architectural references to the neighboring Bernhard-Adelung-School were also integrated into the design.
background
The Bertolt Brecht School is the only upper secondary school in Darmstadt and is located on the edge of the Bürgerpark Nord (North Citizens' Park). It was originally built in the 1970s by the architectural firm Dieter Loewer + Partner. The now-completed new building plans were drawn up by the architectural firm agn and are based on a space program developed by the city's school authority.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
