132_Education Campus South Heilbronn

The urban design concept aims to complete the existing university campus ring and create a new central core that connects the city, the campus, and the surrounding landscape. To the north lie the existing Campus East and Campus Central/North areas, as well as the Campus West, which is currently under development. The southern extension forms an identity-defining completion of the campus ring, spatially and functionally linking all subareas.

The site is divided into two subareas: the southeastern area of the former ice rink and swimming hall (Subarea B) and the northwestern park area (Subarea A). At present, both areas are separated by Mannheimer Straße and railway tracks, causing them to appear isolated. The objective of the planning is to overcome these barriers and create a coherent, vibrant campus quarter. The Campus Loop itself connects all existing and new campus areas into an identity-defining urban sequence. New bridges link Campus South with Campus East and Campus West, while landscape-oriented walkways activate the banks of the Neckar River.

In Subarea B, the new Campus South is developed as a compact, green university location. Four university buildings are arranged according to a predefined grid and organized in pairs, allowing the university to be divided in the future into two functionally independent units. At the northwestern edge, a 48-meter-high institute building serves as a landmark for the campus. Staggered floors create urban terraces with high spatial quality and panoramic views. The existing parking structure is retained on its two lower levels and provides approximately 156 parking spaces. Adjacent to the ground floor, a service and delivery area is created with direct access to the university buildings. From the second upper floor onward, the building is converted into a boarding house. The top floor is redesigned as a publicly accessible urban terrace with green spaces and recreational facilities, thereby linking education, sports, and urban life. The new campus square forms the heart of Campus South. It is designed as a gently sloping retention area that stores rainwater and improves the microclimate through evaporation. Generous green spaces, a solar canopy providing shade and energy generation, a distinctive tree population, and a small alder grove enhance spatial quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity. A finely tuned network of pathways connects the edges of the square with adjacent uses, while a bridge to Campus East continues the campus loop.

The Campus Park (Subarea A) serves as the green heart as well as a sports and recreation center. The sports and swimming halls are integrated into the landscape in a pavilion-like manner, connected underground, and offer fitness, exercise, and physiotherapy facilities. The roof of the sports center is used as a covered outdoor sports area.

The open spaces are characterized by durable, natural materials and a low degree of surface sealing. Existing tree structures are preserved and carefully reinforced, ensuring that the landscape character is maintained, further developed, and used as an identity-forming backbone of the campus quarter. The result is a coherent university district that is functionally and spatially interconnected, featuring a green core, sustainable open-space design, and a clear urban identity.

SUSTAINABILITY

The microclimate of the campus square is enhanced through trees, water features, and light-colored surfaces, while cantilevered roof structures provide shade and protect against wind. To minimize greenhouse gas emissions, the buildings are constructed using timber-hybrid systems and incorporate reused components or recycled materials. Photovoltaic systems on green roofs make dual use of the roof surfaces for electricity generation and microclimate improvement, with the roof structure allowing for nearly complete coverage.

The buildings are designed to be energy-efficient and climate-responsive. High-performance thermal insulation glazing with high daylight and solar transmittance reduces the need for artificial lighting and harnesses solar heat gains in winter. External solar shading systems, together with the structural shading provided by projecting floor slabs, protect the buildings from overheating in summer. Windows, trickle vents, and bathroom exhaust systems enable natural ventilation and ensure a continuous supply of fresh air. Decentralized, reversible heat pumps connected via a chilled-water network provide efficient heating and cooling without the need for additional cooling systems. Passive strategies such as thermal mass, daylight utilization, and high-quality insulation help stabilize indoor temperatures and reduce overall energy demand.

Status: Competition

Client: City of Heilbronn

Year: 2025

Size: 11,6 ha, 62000 m²

Ceyda Cerkes, Marc Dufour-Feronce, Leo Goldenbaum, Timothey Langley, David Lau, Katarzyna Maliszewska, Andreas Reeg, Viola Vollenweber

Landscape Architects: capattistaubach urbane Landschaften