Leoben is the second largest town in the state of Styria in central Austria. It is home to Montanuniversitaet Leoben, an internationally renowned university focusing on mining, metallurgy and materials science, and to several related industrial enterprises such as voestalpine Stahl, all of which play an important role in the life of the town.

Leading architects such as Boris Podrecca, Günther Domenig, Eilfried Huth or nonconform have realised projects here. Looking back on a long history and a rich architectural tradition, Leoben is also facing its share of modern-day challenges. Amongst others, these include a heterogeneous population and a large number of children who need special educational support.

In addition to a primary school for 300 children the school complex also houses the New Middle School Leoben-Stadt. With its 300 students, this NMS (a comprehensive school for 10- to 14-year-olds) is one of the biggest of its kind in the region. It has played a pioneering role in developing, testing and implementing innovative concepts that are core elements of the NMS syllabus today. Amongst others, these include a science focus, French as a second modern language and the ‘Good Book’, which highlights the students’ strengths and positive qualities. The federal state of Styria has honoured the school’s dedicated work with an Education Panther award.

Den denkmalgeschützten Altbestand der 1904/05 erbauten Schule konnten wir in seiner Substanz belassen, durch den Abbruch der Schulwarthäuschen und Sanitäranlagen schaffen wir mehr Platz und Transparenz. Den so entstehenden Raum zwischen dem denkmalgeschützten Klassentrakt und dem Turnsaalgebäude füllen wir mit großzügigen und zum Garten geöffneten Gemeinschaftsflächen.

New openings between the corridors and the classrooms allow for more interaction and flexibility, for example for learning in smaller groups. The corridor walls itself become part of the furniture, with seating niches where students can chat and chill and small meeting tables where they can learn together. And we didn’t forget about the teachers, either: Bright and open rooms on the upper floor create an environment that enables communication as well as quiet, concentrated work.

Removing the old bay-shaped sanitary extensions makes way for a new, stepped central area that allows students to get a breath of fresh air and enjoy a view of the beautiful park from partially roofed balconies on every floor. Seating steps and airy spaces inside the building connect all four floors, stimulating communication and creating a pleasant atmosphere during breaks and at school events.

The school’s former basement becomes the bright main entrance with direct access to the park.The proximity of the library, the training and school kitchen and the media room creates synergies between the NMS and the primary school on the ground floor. The centrally located old sports hall is turned into a multi-purpose space with barrier-free access, new lockers and a spacious lobby.

The extension primarily houses rooms for special activities and the sports rooms. The ground floor accommodates the studios for creative work, and on the floor above that there is an area for special science education and a movement room. The elevator at the intersection between the rebuilt fabric and the extension provides barrier-free access to the entire school; external visitors can also enter the extension here. The roof can be used as a sports ground.