Campus “PIANO”
Vocational Training Campus Eastern Switzerland in Sulgen
Competition Concept: The Vocational Training Campus Eastern Switzerland in Sulgen aims to create a future-proof building ensemble that brings together spaces for cross-company courses in various professions and industries under one roof – flexible, functional, and with a high quality of open spaces.
The Berufsbildungscampus Ostschweiz Foundation, founded in 2021, aims to strengthen and connect vocational training in the region. In Sulgen, a campus for around 300–400 trainees is to be created, consolidating inter-company courses and other educational offerings from various sectors. Due to its high degree of flexibility, the campus offers diverse opportunities for collaboration and high transparency in the teaching processes.
Learning in Flexible Structures
The facility is divided into two functionally different buildings: A quiet, compact structure is dedicated to the training rooms, while a three-story, column-free longitudinal building houses the workshops with lifting platforms. The physical separation ensures optimal use of space and clear organization.
A continuous south-facing balcony serves vertical circulation, promotes exchange between learners, and concurrently creates new recreational qualities. The clear zoning and openness of the architecture support transparent teaching processes and allow for flexible adaptation to future usage requirements.
Open Space
The design of the open space follows ecological principles: Surfacing is minimized to enable natural rainwater infiltration and reduce summer overheating. Meteoric water is directed into generously designed green areas, which serve as retention and infiltration areas at the same time.
Native solitary trees structure the outdoor space and break its scale. In combination with mixed perennial plantings, extensive flower meadows, and greened roof areas, a diverse, biodiversity-promoting habitat is created. The sustainable concept is supplemented by extensively greened roofs with PV modules contributing to energy generation.
A central, easily accessible courtyard serves as a break area, promotes night cooling of interior spaces, and creates an atmospheric connection between the buildings.
A Campus with Identity
With clear proportions and volumetric forms, the campus harmoniously blends into its surroundings. Due to their height and mass, they act as filters between the Thurgau Building Contractors' Association and the Befang Intermediate School Center. In the southern open space, there are outdoor workstations for practical learning in the greenery. Moreover, this area was deliberately designed so that an expansion building can be realized there if needed.
