KBZ Commercial Vocational Training Centre

Client: Kanton Zug

Location: Aabachstrasse 7, 6300 Zug

Completion: 2001

Competition: 1st prize

The location and proportions of the precise, elongated building cube in the southern perimeter of the gasworks area fulfil two urban planning concerns. On the one hand, General-Guisan-Strasse, as a development axis from the train station to Herti, is given further spatial purpose and, on the other, the future ‘Gasworks area’ district block is already clearly bordered in the south.

The external appearance reflects the internal building concept with a corresponding façade structure in glass and metal. It is based on a consistent, longitudinal division of the entire building into a more closed room space with all classrooms to the north and a transparent room space to the south.

Here, the access and infrastructure zones, the break and lounge areas and the work alcoves are combined in a spacious, open room structure.

The result is a continuously open, attractive communication zone with a unique view of the city, lake and mountains. 

We paid special attention to building services. A photovoltaic system installed on the roof supplies part of the electrical energy. The artesian confined groundwater serves as a source of heat and cold. An electric heat pump generates the heat for the school building. A concrete core system ensures warm and cold temperatures. In the sanitary area, rainwater is used to flush the toilets. The rainwater is captured on the roof and collected in two cisterns in the foundation area.