Grundschule Wandlitz

Designed to serve more than 500 students, the new three-story extension will replace temporary classrooms with a future-ready, permanent learning environment. The extension is being built to the southwest of the existing school, along the southeast boundary of the site.

Three new learning spaces — or clusters — each comprising four classrooms, a differentiated learning area, and an after-school care room, are arranged around a central shared space. This spatial concept supports modern, student-centered learning. In total, the project delivers 23 new classrooms with ancillary rooms, an administrative zone, and a large dining hall with an attached cafeteria kitchen.

The extension is built with CLT walls, floors, and stairs, bringing the warmth and exceptional performance of timber to the heart of the school.

The building meets the environmental criteria of the German Sustainable Building Council (BNB) through green roofs, photovoltaic systems, and landscape design that incorporates rainwater management. The building itself stores carbon, while the surrounding school grounds will be transformed into lively outdoor learning and play spaces.

The project emphasizes minimal material use. Details are intentionally kept simple and repetitive, enabling local tradespeople to participate in construction — supporting local skills development and economic sustainability. Materials were chosen for robustness, durability, and low carbon footprint.

"We chose a timber structure because it satisfies economic, ecological, and construction-related criteria all at once." Harald Weber, B.Eng.

The project targets the Silver rating of the German Sustainable Building Quality (BNB) certification for educational buildings (2017 version), as well as QNG Plus status. Achieving these standards requires meeting strict requirements for greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable construction practices.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Oliver Borchert summarized the spirit of the project:

"This learning space will meet every requirement needed to provide generations of students with the spaces they so urgently need." Oliver Borchert, Mayor of Wandlitz