AHS Reininghaus Graz
Designed as a long-form academic secondary school with 36 classes for around 900 students and 100 teachers, this building marks the northern edge of Quartier 12 in Graz’s emerging Reininghaus district with its distinctive façade.
The project began two years earlier as a temporary container school, under the leadership of the current principal, who was involved from the outset in developing the school’s educational concept. Here, the very conception of school is being holistically rethought—entirely in accordance with the guiding vision of the school team: “Fostering a new generation of creative thinkers—for a future with future.” The interplay of pedagogy and architecture resulted in friendly, bright spatial sequences with diverse visual connections and a consistently strong relationship with the outdoors.
Built to the “Klimaaktiv Gold” standard, the compact and vertically oriented structure achieves a surprising sense of spatial generosity on a limited site. The four-story L‑shaped volume unfolds towards the southwest into a terraced landscape, where green pergola elements weave playfully into the blue-green façade design. At the foot of the steps, the schoolyard, planted with trees and integrated seating, welcomes students and visitors. The adjacent forecourt acts as a shared interface between the secondary school and the neighboring primary school. There are no parking spaces around the site, encouraging students and staff to travel by bicycle or public transport.
The open, plaza-like character continues in the interior, which opens in several directions. On the left is a two-story assembly hall with floor-to-ceiling glazing and direct views toward the schoolyard and forecourt. Its centerpiece is a wide set of seating steps, an attractive break-time meeting place thanks to generously distributed mint-colored cushions. Together with the cloakroom, multipurpose hall, and buffet, the ground floor forms a continuous spatial sequence. High-quality wooden floors, custom-built furniture, full-height doors, and a harmonious color concept define the school’s atmosphere. Green-hued sanitary facilities, benches, and seating niches—including those in the open library—add cheerful accents. The available space provides age-appropriate opportunities for both retreat and social exchange.
The classrooms for the lower secondary (Grades 5–8) are arranged in clusters of four classrooms with a shared open learning zone. For upper secondary (Grades 9–12), which follows a department system, students have a homeroom on the first upper floor. Two clusters are located at the ends of each of the three upper floors, distinguished by specific identifying colors. Between them lie the shared department spaces for natural sciences, STEM, and art, as well as the upper-level departments for history and languages. The intermixing of age groups within clusters strengthens peer learning, while the learning islands in front of the clusters and departments promote both self-directed and collaborative work.
Three light-filled gymnasiums are located on the basement level and are visually connected to the ground floor by large windows. The school’s physical activity concept is complemented by a green roof terrace with sports courts, a 60‑meter running track, and a bouldering wall—along with panoramic views of the Graz Schlossberg.
[ Reininghaus Federal Academic Secondary Schools, Graz ] Architecture: j‑c‑k, Bürogemeinschaft Janser – Castorina – Katzenberger. Client: BIG Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m. b. H., on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Structural design: Pilz und Partner ZT GmbH. Landscape architecture: studio blaugruen. Graphics: buero sort. Procurement procedure: Open, single-stage design competition with implementation (above EU threshold). Planning and construction period: 2020–2024. Usable floor area: 10 800 m². Address: Am Steinfeld 1, 8010 Graz, Styria.