Modern, Flexible & Warm: Modular Timber Construction

A three-story extension in modular timber construction complements the “In den Kappesgärten” primary school in Bensheim. The new building responds to rising student numbers and expands the previously two-stream school to four streams. Nine classrooms—including one inclusion room—provide space for approximately 25 children each. The building is complemented by differentiation areas, a cafeteria, a multipurpose room, a staff room, and storage and technical rooms. All areas are barrier-free accessible.

Precise Prefabrication Reduces Construction Time
The building consists of 80 industrially manufactured timber modules, produced at the timber construction company Baumgarten GmbH and subsequently transported to Bensheim. The high degree of prefabrication significantly reduced on-site construction time. Ongoing school operations remained largely unaffected. The new building is also designed for the future in terms of energy: decentralized ventilation systems with heat recovery ensure a healthy indoor climate, while a photovoltaic system on the roof covers part of the energy demand.

Load-Bearing Structure and Interior Walls Made of Laminated Veneer Lumber
A special veneer element was used for the construction. The laminated veneer lumber enables large spans and flexible floor plans, while its dimensional stability ensures precisely prefabricated components and rapid assembly. Material selection also plays an important role in the interior walls: slender, bracing constructions create additional usable space—a decisive advantage in modular construction. The project demonstrates how prefabrication, timber construction, and modular planning can be combined into an efficient overall concept.