Creative Institute Detmold

Institute building for the OWL Technical University, the Detmold University of Music and the University of Paderborn as a low-energy house in wood hybrid construction

Bielefelder Strasse 66a
32756 Detmold

Client: Technical University OWL
Commissioned: HOAI §34 Lph 1-9
2019-2023

Project manager: Schröder Ingenieure, Mainz
Tenders and site supervision: Bau-Planungsbüro Nolte GmbH and Büro 4, Detmold
Structural engineer (conception): Pirmin Jung Deutschland
Structural engineer: Prinz& Pott, Bielefeld
HVAC: Nolting, Kalletal
Electric engineer: Schröder & Partner, Bielefeld
Acoustics: OSJ Ingenieure, Hamburg
Fotos: Marcus Bredt, Berlin

Team: Sebastian Nordmeyer (PM), Jasper Jochimsen, Lorenza D'Orazio

The elongated structure marks the western entrance to the city center on Bielefelder Strasse. It represents the largest possible volume according to the development plan. The floor plan with two outer cores offers a maximum of connected, freely divisible space. A partial basement was built for the extra-high, windowless open space.

The two cores are articulated as special elements by rounded corners and are set apart from the centrally located office, seminar and laboratory wing by means of small loggias. The meeting points arranged in the cores are the communicative centers of the building.

The structure is designed as an ecologic, state-of-the-art wood/concrete composite construction. The main façades are structured horizontally, whereas the lateral cores feature a pattern of small square windows. Only the main entrance and a lange Window addressing the city entrance deviate from this. Façades are clad in wood in order to make the wooden structure and thus the sustainable character of the building perceivable from outside.

The building was realized as a contemporary hybrid timber construction with wood-concrete composite floors. The generously windowed band facades on the long sides are made of prefabricated wooden frame elements. The end faces of the stiffening reinforced concrete cores, on the other hand, have small perforated windows arranged in a diagonal grid. In contrast, there is a large opening framed with fiber concrete elements: the main entrance on the east side and the large window on the west facade, which addresses the entrance to the city. The facades are covered with larch wood, the wooden windows with aluminum covers.