Bildungscampus Deutschordenstrasse

FEEL, LEARN, PLAY

The new Bildungscampus Deutschordenstrasse, organized as a PPP project, was constructed according to the plans of Shibukawa Eder Architects. This time, Vasko+Partner supported the sophisticated project planning together with the architects, especially in terms of structural planning, building services engineering, electrical engineering, building physics, fire protection, cost estimation, and project management.

The new educational campus was built on an approximately 3.2-hectare site. The property is located near Hütteldorf train station and is bordered to the north by the railway tracks of the Westbahn. A residential development with around 450 residential units is planned to the east. A total of approximately 12,000 square meters of space will be available. The outdoor spaces were designed as particularly green areas, alongside the play and sports facilities. Trees, bushes, and grass provide shade and make nature experienceable. Different types of shrubs and trees are planned for this purpose. The diverse planting in the respective areas gives the site a special structure – creating both active and tranquil zones simultaneously.

The building is divided into five levels, serving as a sort of sound barrier to the railway tracks. "The building is very close to the Westbahn, and people with hearing impairments experience certain frequencies very intensely – that's why we had particularly high requirements in terms of building physics, sound insulation, and acoustics," explains David Zalusinski from Vasko+Partner. Inside, all rooms are easily accessible via short paths: To support communication, dining halls and creative areas are arranged around a central access area. The educational campus includes a twelve-group kindergarten, two all-day schools (elementary school and New Middle School) with a total of 29 classrooms, rooms for special education, a music school, three gymnasiums, and spacious outdoor areas. The sports facility is also available to the residents of the surrounding area outside of campus operating hours.

FOSSIL-FREE HEATING AND COOLING

In terms of building technology, the new educational campus is another highlight among Vienna's constructions: Ground-source heat pumps and building component activation – despite suspended ceilings – ensure nearly fossil-free heating and cooling, creating a pleasant and comfortable environment. A heat pump system with a maximum heating capacity of 375 kW is used for heating and cooling. Geothermal energy is utilized as the heat source for the heat pumps. In winter, the ground around the borehole field (approximately 75 boreholes each measuring 110 meters) is cooled through heat extraction. Ventilation played a crucial role in building physics. The high requirements regarding ventilation and sound insulation/damping were successfully implemented.

To avoid permanently reducing the heat potential of the ground, regeneration is planned for the summer. Regeneration involves warming up the ground, using geothermal energy as a heat sink. The benefits include long-term use of the borehole field through balanced load cases and, importantly for users, building cooling during the summer. "The client's clear requirement was for the energy concept to be based solely on renewable energy. The building site was ideal for installing deep boreholes and enabling active and passive solar use. The architect particularly considered the demands of building services engineering and building physics in conjunction with the building services. This ultimately contributed to a successful outcome, thanks also to the outstanding cooperation with all relevant municipal departments, especially because building services engineering requires significant space, which is sometimes reluctantly provided," explains Stefan Zisser, responsible for building services engineering at Vasko+Partner. Building simulations identified optimization potential quickly – without compromising comfort and in favor of investment costs.