Albert-Schweitzer Primary School

Project: Albert-Schweitzer Primary School

Segment: Education

Country/city: Germany, Geldern

Architect: Gelderner Bau Gesellschaft mbH

Installer: Brinkmann GmbH

Photographer: HG Esch Photography

Production year: 2023

The school

The Albert-Schweitzer Community Primary School in Geldern is one of seven primary schools in a small town with 34,000 inhabitants and has been recognised as a certified UNESCO school since 2011, which strives for sustainable education and upbringing. It is an exemplary advocate of inclusion, integration and environmental protection.

Around 180 pupils currently attend the school. In grades 1 to 4, children with various special educational needs receive appropriate educational support and are taught German as a second language.

The construction

The planning and implementation of the school construction project at the Albert-Schweitzer School was the responsibility of Gelderner Bau Gesellschaft mbH, namely Ernst-Christin Gerats as architect and Jan Spickmann as construction engineer. The project quickly took shape in collaboration with specialist planners. The new extension was handed over in October 2021 and the complete handover with completion of the renovation of the existing building took place in July 2023. The result is a building of around 1200 m² with new classrooms and break-out rooms, a large canteen and new rooms for all-day care.

The challenge

All those involved in the planning quickly realised that the special requirements of modern school and teaching concepts meant that room acoustics would play a major role for pupils and teachers. In order to create a well-functioning learning environment from an acoustic point of view, the acoustics must meet the requirements associated with the purpose of the rooms. The main focus was placed on improving speech intelligibility.

The solution

The right Ecophon acoustic solution was found in co-operation with Brinkmann GmbH as the specialist contractor. The decision was made in favour of the Ecophon Solo™ Matrix acoustic ceiling, which was not only the perfect solution from a room acoustics perspective, but also scored points for practical reasons. Thanks to the individually hinged elements, it guarantees quick access to the installations in the ceiling void.