SSP AG, Fritz-Henßler-Berufskolleg, Dortmund

Since its foundation in 1977, the Bochum-based
architectural office SSP AG, with locations in
Bochum and Karlsruhe, has been realizing a
large number of real-estate and building projects
throughout Germany. With an interdisciplinary planning
team of architects, engineers, and real-estate
economists, and other experts, new and innovative
solutions are found for each project in cooperative
collaboration. The resulting concepts are characterized
by successful identification, high efficiency
and good design.
In 2013, after a Europe-wide tendering procedure,
SSP AG was commissioned with the overall
planning of renovation and construction of extensions
and new buildings for the Fritz-Henßler-
Berufskolleg in Dortmund. The listed building complex
of a former arts-and-crafts and craftsmen
school in the Dortmund city centre was in great
need of renovation. The task was to satisfy a fixed
spatial programme taking into account the building
fabric worthy of preservation, both in the existing
building stock and through extensions and
new buildings. The extension by two building
blocks in a strict, functional design language and
with clearly structured façades allows for an exciting
and yet harmonious combination of old and
new. Through a sensitive »carry on building« of
the existing building stock, a successful new interpretation
of the existing fabric was created.
For the »extremely successful handling« of
the historically significant stock and the »highquality
« restoration in accordance with the regulations
for listed buildings, the architects were
awarded the North Rhine-Westphalia School-
Construction Prize 2018 by the Ministry for Schools
and Education and the Chamber of Architects of
North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as the German
Design Award 2019, the best architects Award
2020 and the Otto Borst Prize for Urban Renewal
2020.