In Lorch, a small city in Baden-Württemberg, a school and sports center has been developed over the past 30 years. Three school buildings and a three-field sports hall, all of them designed by Behnisch & Partner, are subtly integrated into the surrounding landscape. The city of Lorch recognized the architectural value of the site and now wants to cautiously refurbish the separate elements as far as it is needed.

Instead of an architectural transformation of the existing building from 1976, the aim was to improve the building from an economic point of view, regarding contemporary security needs and energy-efficiency measures. The usable area on the entrance level with the auditorium space has been extended to meet today’s requirements. Therefore, the façade line has been moved backwards, towards the hall level’s rear wall.

The new entrance to the hall is a generous foyer. Passing the cash point and the cloakroom, a broad staircase leads downstairs to the hall level. Additional space for visitors has been created, serving as areas for hospitality with a detached room and a separate access for delivery purposes. A central, adequately sized room for the janitor is also be placed on the entrance floor.

The distance between the existing shower facilities enables a reorganization of the hall level floor plan. The broad staircase leads visitors into a generous hallway, which connects the sports hall to the locker rooms and – due to its widening in the access areas – allows for a greater freedom of movement. Additional space for stowage, meeting the association’s and the school’s needs, is provided through another store room. The six former locker rooms are reduced to four, two each being connected to one sanitary block. All sanitary facilities have been renewed, such as the visitor’s lavatory with an integrated WC for disabled, the teacher’s bathrooms and the locker rooms. The existing pillar shaped showers are replaced by separate showers, which are arranged alongside the walls.