The Fröschmatt School is Pratteln’s central secondary school and is currently undergoing a transformation. Due to a significant increase in student numbers and long-overdue renovations, it is becoming one of the largest and most modern school facilities in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. With an investment volume of just under CHF 119 million, a sustainable new building for around 36 classes and state-of-the-art educational requirements is being constructed on the existing site. The open competition was won by the winning design “Lungo” by Burckhardt Architekten AG, which integrates the school complex optimally into its park-like surroundings.
Innovative architecture and flexible use
The building ensemble is clearly structured. At the centre of the plot, the school building creates space for learning, meeting and development. The gyms, located in the north-east, including an all-weather area on the roof, are being built as separate pavilions. State-of-the-art hybrid timber construction and flexibly designed interiors meet the requirements for sustainability and future viability. Surrounding balconies provide protection from the sun and become lively terraces.
Planning with the region in mind
The schedule is ambitious. Construction of the main building will begin in 2026, with occupancy scheduled for 2029. The gyms will be completed by 2031. In the meantime, lessons will continue uninterrupted thanks to a specially constructed, sustainable temporary facility on the Hexmattwiese and in parts of the old building. The entire complex not only promotes contemporary teaching, but also enhances the attractiveness of Pratteln as a location and its development prospects.
Tag: Bildungsinfrastruktur
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New construction of the Fröschmatt School in Pratteln
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New school buildings create space for growing pupil numbers
The Limmattal cantonal school in Urdorf now has more space for teaching. On Tuesday, 1 April, two extension buildings were officially inaugurated, according to a press release from the Canton of Zurich Building Department. They offer modern rooms for science lessons, two double sports halls, an assembly hall and an outdoor area, according to the press release. According to population forecasts, the number of pupils at the cantonal school is set to increase significantly in the coming years. The new buildings will create the necessary space for the increasing number of pupils.
The new premises were inaugurated in the presence of the Director of Construction, Martin Neukom, the Director of Education, Silvia Steiner, and the Principal of the Limmattal Cantonal School, Andreas Messmer. The inauguration was accompanied by musical performances by around 90 pupils from the cantonal school, according to the press release.
One of the new buildings contains two double sports halls, classrooms for music and an auditorium with 500 seats. The second building houses four floors of rooms for physics, chemistry, computer science and biology as well as several classrooms. The new buildings were designed by PenzisBettini Architekten from Zurich.
Thermal energy for the new buildings is generated by geothermal probes. Photovoltaic systems have been installed on the roofs of the two extension wings to supply the cantonal school buildings with electricity.
On Saturday, 5 April, there will be an open day for school tours.
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New school infrastructure in Zofingen takes shape
The building construction for the new secondary school centre in Zofingen has been underway since June 2024. As the construction company responsible, STRABAG, has now announced, the basement and the first floor with classrooms are already in place. In the excavation pit next to the gymnasium, the specialised civil engineering team has completed the groundwork by installing the bored piles and constructing the retaining walls.
At the same time, employees from Verkehrswegebau Obergösgen are laying the service lines. The structural engineering work should be completed by the end of June 2025. The finishing work will then begin, according to the information provided. The building will be put into operation at the start of the 2027/2028 school year.
STRABAG describes the ten concrete beams for the gymnasium ceiling, which were lifted into place in mid-November, as a “spectacular highlight”. Each of them was 29 metres long and weighed 60 tonnes. Other prefabricated elements were also installed. They were reportedly planned immediately after the contract was awarded in order to be ready for use on time.
Now that the beams for the new triple gymnasium have been moved into place, the structural engineering staff, led by site manager Daniela Huonder and foreman Vincenzo Tafaro, are currently busy shuttering, reinforcing and masonry work on the other floors.