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Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building.
Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH

Client:
Private Universität Witten/Herdecke GmbH, Witten

Total construction time:
5/2020 - 9/2021

Location:
58455 Witten/Herdecke

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University, Witten-Herdecke

The three-storey extension to Witten/Herdecke University was designed by Kaden+Lager using a hybrid timber construction method. The building combines office, administrative and seminar rooms with a library, event spaces and a café-bar. It provides additional space for study, teaching, research and collaboration, and expands the campus with modern learning and working areas.

The building was designed as a modern environment for working, learning and socialising. The architecture, layout and choice of materials are designed to encourage interaction between students, lecturers and staff.

ZÜBLIN Timber constructed the load-bearing structure using glued laminated timber in combination with LENO® cross-laminated timber floors. The basement was constructed as a sloping floor using concrete. Post-and-beam structures and external façades made of untreated local softwood characterise the appearance of the new campus building.

Floor-to-ceiling timber-aluminium windows ensure maximum use of natural light and contribute to a pleasant indoor environment. The interior spaces combine open communal areas with quiet zones for concentrated work. The layout also allows for flexible adaptation to different usage requirements.

The low-tech energy concept combines user-oriented building services with a combined heat and power plant. The aim is to achieve efficient building operation whilst maintaining a high level of functionality. Roof terraces and a newly designed outdoor area featuring a campus square and campus park complement the building by providing recreational and social spaces for students, lecturers and staff.



German press
Witten/Herdecke University opts for wood
Ground-breaking ceremony
Start of timber construction
Topping-out ceremony
Opening
Sustainable building certification

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Photo of three men in construction site clothing at the ground-breaking ceremony for Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
Digital ground-breaking ceremony; source: Witten/Herdecke University (German vision)

Production and assembly

  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see glulam beams and a large LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UHW
    Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see glulam beams and a large LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UHW
  • Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see glulam beams and a LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see glulam beams and a LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements from a bird's eye view © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements from a bird's eye view © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements from a bird's eye view © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of large wooden elements from a bird's eye view © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of the glulam beams and timber elements. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see the assembly of the glulam beams and timber elements. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a bird's eye view of the wooden shell in dim lighting. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a bird's eye view of the wooden shell in dim lighting. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building, an excavator and people. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building, an excavator and people. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see an interior with many wooden surfaces. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the inside. You can see an interior with many wooden surfaces. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of the inside of Witten University. You can see an interior with light-colored walls and a wooden ceiling © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of the inside of Witten University. You can see an interior with light-colored walls and a wooden ceiling © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building from a bird's eye view. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building from a bird's eye view. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH

Impressions

  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Classroom at the University of Witten. You can see a furnished interior with a LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Classroom at the University of Witten. You can see a furnished interior with a LENO wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of a furnished office space at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of a furnished office space at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of a furnished common room at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of a furnished common room at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of a furnished common room at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of a furnished common room at Witten University. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of a lecture hall furnished with red chairs at Witten University. You can see a large wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of a lecture hall furnished with red chairs at Witten University. You can see a large wooden ceiling. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of the library at Witten University. You can see lots of books, a wooden ceiling and wooden stairs. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of the library at Witten University. You can see lots of books, a wooden ceiling and wooden stairs. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building from a bird's eye view. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
    Photo of Witten University from the outside. You can see a large wooden building from a bird's eye view. © Johannes Buldmann, UWH
  • Our services
    • Turnkey service as general contractor
  • Products used

    LENO® cross laminated timber ceilings and walls, glulam columns and clamps

  • Architectural office

    Kaden+Lager GmbH, Berlin - successor to Lager Schwertfeger, Berlin

  • Engineering office/structural planning

    Structural design ifb Berlin

  • Engineering office for building technology / building physics

    Transplan Stuttgart

  • Building owner

    Private University Witten/Herdecke GmbH, Witten

Factsheet

With the project for the University of Witten/Herdecke, we - together with the Berlin architects Kaden + Lager - fully exploited the potential of timber hybrid construction: The result is one of the most sustainable university buildings in Germany. (2021)

Sustainable new build made of wood (PDF)