Plenty of room for creative ideas

The task was clearly defined. Barrier-free, Passive House standard, modern, spacious. The pupils and teachers at the Berufsbildenden Schulen Neustadt am Rübenberge [Vocational School in Neustadt am Rübenberge] are not the only ones delighted with what the Hanover-based architectural firm “pfitzner moorkens” has accomplished in the planning of the new auditorium.

“This new, multifunctional building meets all the requirements of a modern teaching space,” says Regional President Hauke Jagau.

After 16 months of construction, the multipurpose hall was officially opened in January. The approximately 42 m x 29 m flat-roofed building, which can accommodate up to 400 people, is available as a venue for events such as conferences, meetings, graduation parties, vocational education and job fairs and information sessions. This means that large, province-wide and regional events can be hosted at the school.

As stipulated, the building features barrier-free access to all rooms. The core area, the hall that can be divided up into five separate rooms with the help of portable partitions, and the classrooms are thus fully accessible to wheelchairs. The foyer, which features an open counter for catering and a cloakroom, opens up to the hall area, the adjoining rooms and the WCs. The rooms in the multipurpose hall boast west and south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows to let in as much daylight as possible.

Of course, the multipurpose hall is completely state-of-the-art. Automatic ventilation provides not only a comfortable indoor climate but also helps reduce energy costs. State-of-the-art event technology, flexible seating and a stage area make it possible to host any type of event. The choice of materials including the rough concrete walls, the light parquet flooring and the ceiling made of Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool panels give the rooms a sense of serenity. “The simple materials along with the lighting create a powerful room that serves as the background for a wide variety of possible uses,” says architect Maria Pfitzner. “The grand scale in comparison to humans is unusual and is also what makes this building project special.”