Kirchheim near Munich
Kirchheim Secondary School
Kirchheim, Germany / 01.2021 - 12.2022
With the construction of the new Kirchheim High School, a modern, open learning campus was created on a 70.5 x 70.5 m site surrounded by greenery, with a gross floor area of approximately 21,000 m2 and a building height of about 22 m. PORR Building Construction Region South carried out the structural work in such a way that the challenging architectural design could be reliably executed: organic forms, curved exposed concrete walls, as well as tight tolerances and high dimensional accuracy were precisely achieved.
Facts & Figures
Company
PORR GmbH & Co. KGaA
Type
Educational institutions
Runtime
01.2021 - 12.2022
Teaching and learning inside a masterpiece of concrete engineering
Flexible learning environments and central meeting spaces
The new learning center comprises school buildings, a playground, a four-court gymnasium, and sports fields. The architectural firm heinlewischer, commissioned with the design, sought to create âthe impression of a neatly stacked pile of precisely cut wooden panelsâ with the new five-story school building. Surrounding pergolas and the loosely arranged rooms ensure a sense of openness. At the same time, the exterior balconiesâdesigned with enhanced slip resistanceâserve as escape routes to the four emergency stairwells; these open spaces at lofty heights can even be used as teaching areas. The concept that learning, discussion, and communication can take place anytime and anywhere runs throughout the entire school grounds.
Inside, organic forms dominate. Central gathering places include the foyer, which spans all floors with four gallery levels and is flooded with natural light through skylights, as well as the free-form auditorium, which seats 600 people. Walls and ceilings are constructed of solid reinforced concrete; nearly one-fifth of the total 9,500 m2 of wall space is designed as visually appealing exposed concrete walls. The auditoriumâs ceiling, which spans over 25 m without supports, is a steel-concrete composite structure. More than 60 precast staircases, each 2.40 m wide, as well as cantilevered steel staircases in the atrium area, connect the individual sections of the building. The sunken basement level, housing the mechanical plant and sprinkler system, was constructed as a watertight reinforced concrete structure.
Close Coordination Leads to Success
The challenging architectural geometryâfeaturing approximately 90 different radii, variable heights, and curved ceilingsâplaced high demands on execution and precision. Using 230 custom formwork elementsâincluding over 30 for the tall, curved walls, as well as support scaffolding in the perimeter beam area at heights ranging from 10 to 22 mâthe complex design was reliably executed. Thanks to close coordination among all parties involved and the use of modern digital tools for planning and documentation, the project remained safely within the agreed-upon schedule and budget.
In addition to work preparation, the safety of the construction crew was also a top priority. Due to the varying overhangs during the formwork installation for the floor slabs and edge beams, as well as formwork operations at heights exceeding 20 m, a dedicated occupational safety plan was developed and successfully implemented.
