Thomas Pracht

School construction for tomorrow – and what comes after?

What happens to school buildings when student numbers and space requirements change in the long term? At SCHULBAU Berlin, Thomas Pracht offers insights into school building planning in the state capital of Potsdam and shows the challenges that demographic change poses for the future use of educational buildings.

While rising student numbers in recent years have required extensive investment in new buildings and extensions, the question of the long-term use of existing school buildings is increasingly coming into focus. Using a practical example from Potsdam, Thomas Pracht examines the possibilities and limits of repurposing, as well as the related structural, legal, and organizational requirements. In doing so, he shows how forward-looking planning and flexible building concepts can help develop school spaces in a meaningful way, even as needs change.

About the speaker
Thomas Pracht is an architect and has served since 2026 as head of the division for investment measures, new construction, and renovation at the Kommunaler Immobilien Service (KIS) of the state capital of Potsdam. Previously, he worked in project development, client advisory services, and school building planning in Berlin, where he supported projects as part of the Berlin Schulbau Offensive.

Find out at SCHULBAU Berlin how school buildings can be planned for long-term adaptability and used effectively even as requirements change.