<p>Sample school facility for more than 3,000 children has risen in Luxembourg</p>

Creative Variations within a Formal Framework
At the heart of the modern architectural solution are six school buildings, arranged around a central garden. This is accessible through courtyards, pathways, and covered spaces. Given the diversity of age groups and the corresponding levels of education, it was necessary to accommodate their different needs and expectations while maintaining a cohesive character across the entire complex. Therefore, architects created individual, clear, and independent settings with classrooms and outdoor areas for individual groups of students (from toddlers in nurseries, preschoolers to high school students) within the six buildings. Each group, or school community, thus has its own individualized internal and external spaces. Although this solution may not immediately align with the fundamental idea of the project – to unify the complex of buildings and create a cozy and safe environment for children's education – the opposite is true. The architects chose an airy and open compositional solution with a unified design that has its spatial and intuitive definitions, but without isolated areas and tangible obstacles. For all who visit the campus, including students and teachers, the spaces feel cohesive as a whole due to the thoughtful architecture. The facility includes administrative support, conference spaces for 350 people, five gyms, a gymnastics studio, and two swimming pools.

"Large windows and glass facades play a significant role from both a design and functional perspective. They enhance the atmosphere of the interior by not only bringing in light and accentuating its color concept but also significantly contribute to the overall indoor climate of the building thanks to automated systems and excellent thermal insulation values," adds architect Michel Petit.

The creators of the project compare this architectural form to music, specifically to classical music in the rendition of Johann Sebastian Bach. Variations within the unified concept are apparent in the design of the interiors as well as in the facades of the individual buildings. Recurring and simultaneously unifying elements are primarily large open spaces, the use of consistent materials, systems, and functions, as well as the rectangular geometry of the maximum three-story buildings.

Harmonic Play of Colors
The clay brown color of the facade combined with the brick-red concrete cladding perfectly connects the complex with the surrounding landscape. The warm impression it casts on the environment is supported by the dark color of the roof, window frames, and metal surfaces. The interiors of the buildings create a pleasant atmosphere through soft, subtle shades that contrast with the imaginative concept of impressive colored glass. The overall perfection is further enhanced by the large amount of daylight that flows freely through the large windows and glass facade.

"To achieve a bright and cozy interior, it was necessary to install approximately 12,000 m² of highly thermally insulated facade and window elements made of aluminum," explains the project manager Yves Kemp, managing director of Sermelux Aluminium SA. In addition to this Luxembourg supplier, the Schüco brand was also represented in the project by the partner company NR Metallbau GmbH from Germany. According to the supplier, the installation of 852 window sashes with hidden mechatronic fittings TipTronic represented the biggest technological challenge. This brings the benefit of automated window control, including managed ventilation. Integration into the building's central control system is ensured via the Schüco BUS system. The building meets the strict energy regulations for buildings in Luxembourg, with heat transfer coefficient values for the facade less than 0.7 W/m²K.

NR Metallbau supplied 224 facade components for the project. The Schüco FW 60+.SI system was used, completed with window sashes featuring TipTronic fittings AWS 75.SI. These automated sashes are connected to the centrally controlled building through Schüco's BUS system. All window units are equipped with triple glazing, part of which includes integrated colored films from Vanceva Color. This chosen configuration achieves excellent thermal insulation results – the Ucw value is 0.85 W/m²K (Ug value = 0.60 W/m²K). Thanks to the low thermal conductivity of the spacer frame, the Psi value has an excellent value of 0.05 W/mK.

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Summary and Supplementary Information

Floor Area: 86,670 m²
Room Volume: 346,100 m³
Architects: Michel Petit, Luxembourg / Luxembourg, Schilling Architekten Cologne / Germany
Suppliers: Sermelux SA, Kehlen (Luxembourg) and NR Metallbau GmbH, Straelen (Germany)
Technology Used for Windows and Facades: approx. 20,000 m² of aluminum facade system Schüco FW 60+.SI, approx. 550 manually operated window sashes from the Schüco AWS 75.SI system, approx. 1,350 window sashes with mechatronic control Schüco AWS 75.SI TipTronic, sashes Schüco AWS 57 RO RWA (smoke and heat evacuation systems) and control units Schüco RWA, as well as systems for connecting profiles to the central control system Schüco BUS systems.
Construction Budget: approx. 237 million euros
Implementation: 2009-12

For more information about Schüco systems, visit www.schueco.cz