Responding to rising enrollments, the four-form Toni Turek Secondary School was established in Stockum. Developed by Immobilien Projekt Management Düsseldorf on behalf of the City of Düsseldorf, the new school is the result of a design-build competition won by Goldbeck Ost in partnership with Dohle + Lohse, an architectural firm based in Braunschweig.

Situated on the grounds of a former sports field recessed approximately 2.50 metres below the adjacent Max Planck Gymnasium and neighboring residences, the building creates a striking civic presence to the north. Working in concert with the newly constructed sports hall, the rectangular school forms a gently sloped plaza that establishes strong visual identity for the district. To the south, an expansive courtyard opens toward a green corridor while thoughtfully mitigating acoustic impact on nearby homes. The sloped terrain dictates a two-level approach: the lower foyer and sports hall access are reached via a partially terraced plaza dotted with tree islands, while the upper foyer is accessed by a long ramp or dramatic staircase. The orthogonal floor plan with two interior courtyards floods the school with natural light and creates intuitive wayfinding. The foyer anchors the design as a gathering space, with the canteen, assembly hall, and all-day learning areas distributed around it on the ground floor—all maintaining direct visual and physical connection to the outdoors. Administration, faculty offices, and science departments occupy the north-facing upper floors; remaining areas feature clustered grade-level wings. A transparent connective structure between school and gymnasium creates a central entry sequence, distributing traffic to both the modest bleacher area and changing facilities. The equipment storage cleverly integrates into the hillside, remaining invisible from view. In both material and color, the new buildings present themselves as open, welcoming structures. A warm cream-toned brick cladding distinguishes both the school and gymnasium base, conveying durability and contemporary character. Generous horizontal window bands animate the facades, while floor-to-ceiling glazing at key points—entries, courtyard, and canteen—ensures transparency and visual connection throughout.

www.dohle-lohse.de

Photography Credits:

Chris Rausch
www.christopherrausch.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|21)