NEW BUILDING AND EXPANSION Old grammar school Oldenburg

The story continues

Past and future meet in a new form at the Old grammar school Oldenburg. The carefully designed extension blends into the historical ensemble like a new chapter in a story. The new four-storey building not only creates modern learning spaces, but also provides completely barrier-free access to the historic building. The result is a unifying place that respects the almost 450-year history of the city's oldest grammar school and at the same time visualises the transformation to an inclusive, contemporary educational landscape.

Project: Old grammar school Oldenburg
Client: City of Oldenburg
Service: 1-8 HOAI
Area: 4.300 m² GFA
Location: Theatre wall in Oldenburg
Photography: Hannes Heitmüller
Specifics: 1st place PPP-Procedure | Listed building | Barrier-free extension & transition via steel bridges | Green roof with PV system | Underground sports hall | Construction during ongoing operations

In the course of time

The Old grammar school Oldenburg, founded in 1573, is one of the oldest educational centres in the city. Its long history is characterised by constant change, preservation and renewal. The extension continues this tradition. As a restrained but striking intervention, it creates space for contemporary requirements and makes the listed ensemble fully accessible for the first time. Old and new enter into a dialogue that makes continuity visible and thinks about the future.

Altbau und Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Where a single-field sports hall previously stood, a new four-storey building now marks the contemporary extension of the old grammar school. The clear cubature of the new building frames the schoolyard without dominating it. Generous glazing provides visual links between the interior and exterior spaces, creating transparency and a connection. With its red clinker brick and dark roof, the new building makes reference to the existing building, but complements it with an independent, modern language.

Rückansicht Erweiterungsneubau Altes Gymnasium Oldenburg mit Basketballplatz auf dem Schulhof

Seitenansicht Erweiterungsneubau Altes Gymnasium Oldenburg mit Blick auf den rückwärtigen Basketballplatz

Fassade des Erweiterungsneubaus des Alten Gymnasiums Oldenburg mit Blick auf die abgesenkte Sporthalle

Inside, the new building favours flexible structures. Classrooms can be interconnected, glass elements between the rooms create transparency and promote supervision and communication. The learning spaces are designed in such a way that they enable both co-operative work and individual retreat - in line with modern educational concepts.

Großes Fenster im Treppenhaus des Erweiterungsneubaus am Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg mit Blick auf den Altbau

Blickbeziehungen vom Flur ins Klassenzimmer im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Schüler:innen im Flur mit Blickbeziehungen in die Klassenzimmer im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Klassenzimmer mit Blick ins Grüne im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Schüler:innen im Flur mit eingebautem Sitzelement im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Sustainably supplemented

The roof surfaces of the new building make a double contribution to sustainability. They are partly greened and partly equipped with photovoltaics. The building is heated by an efficient combination of heat pump and gas condensing boiler technology. The durable red brick façade material, combined with optimised use of daylight, ensures economic and ecological durability. The roof terraces also create additional outdoor living space.

Dachterrasse und Gründach vor der Fassade des Erweiterungsneubaus des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

The new building is not only barrier-free itself - it also opens up the existing building. All floors of the listed old building are accessed via filigree bridges and an integrated lift. The new building thus takes on a mediating role. It not only connects old and new structurally, but also makes the entire school grounds an inclusive experience.

To minimise the amount of schoolyard space required, the sports hall was lowered into the ground and covered by classrooms. This saves space and creates added value. Thanks to its central location and generous glazing as well as the visual connections to the inside and outside, the hall becomes a visible, lively part of everyday school life.

In den Boden abgesenkte Sporthalle im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Lichteinfall in die in den Boden abgesenkte Sporthalle im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

In den Boden abgesenkte Sporthalle mit Holzelementen an der Wand im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Person vor Holzelement in der Sporthalle im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Blick aus dem Treppenhaus durchs verbindende Fenster in die abgesenkte Sporthalle im Erweiterungsneubau des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

In addition to general classrooms, the new building also offers space for the economics department, modern music rooms and a spacious all-day area. A mobile partition wall between the music room and all-day room allows for flexible utilisation scenarios, from concentrated individual lessons to small events or open group formats.

Blick aus dem Musikraum des Erweiterungsneubaus des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg

Fassade des Erweiterungsneubaus des Alten Gymnasium Oldenburg mit Verbindung zum Altbestand durch filigrane Stahlbrücken

The new building is a place of learning that does far more than just complement the architecture. As a link between historical substance and contemporary pedagogy, the new ensemble creates space for new teaching and learning formats, for exchange, encounters and community.

Voices from the team

Such places place high demands on architecture - both in terms of content and design. The fact that the new building looks so natural today is the result of an open and constructive collaboration with teachers, the conservation authorities and the city.

Rico

Only the renovation and barrier-free accessibility of the existing building creates a truly inclusive place of learning. The challenge was to combine old and new to create a coherent whole in terms of function and design.

Markus