Germany's largest Protestant university serves approximately 2,500 students preparing for careers in social and health care, church education, and social welfare. To tackle a pressing space shortage, the university added a new, strategically recessed floor atop its existing two-story library building over a two-year construction period. Architects Vervoorts & Schindler designed the extension with expansive glazed panels, creating an airy, light-filled addition that floats above the original brick structure, infusing the new spaces with natural daylight.

The new façade features two layers: a primary facade of alternating non-load-bearing glazing and closed panels, backed by a secondary facade of vertical wooden slats roughly 30 cm deep. External sun protection screens shield the east, south, and west exposures. The existing heating infrastructure proved adequate for the new floor, requiring only radiators beneath the windows. The addition's 760 m² accommodates three seminar rooms, a self-study center with three collaborative workspaces, sanitary facilities, and technical areas. The library expansion includes a training room, additional work stations, two offices, two group rooms, and dedicated media library space for the Protestant Church network in Bochum, Herne, and Gelsenkirchen. Extensive glazing creates an interior atmosphere of transparency and openness. High-traffic zones—entrance, corridors, and cloakroom—feature durable rubber flooring, while other areas use resilient needle felt. A striking oak spiral staircase, centrally positioned, forms the visual focal point connecting to the new level. A ramp links the old and new buildings, with the emergency stairwell extended to the upper floor. An existing elevator was upgraded for accessibility, and a second new elevator was installed. The renovation also touched the existing library, where cables, ceilings, and finishes were refreshed on the first floor. Mechanical ventilation serves the new story throughout, with seminar rooms fitted with additional cooling. Workstations feature contemporary design with screen-appropriate task lighting and raised duct systems.

www.vs-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Oliver Noeske

(Featured in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|21)