Festive Opening of the Highschool Zirkusgasse in Vienna

On December 2, 2024, the renovated and revitalized BG/BRG Zirkusgasse in Vienna was officially opened – a milestone for the 125-year-old school building. In the presence of Minister of Education Martin Polaschek and numerous guests, the opening of the newly redesigned school took place, which now serves as a modern space for the future for both students and teachers.

The listed building, originally designed by K.K. architect Gustav Sachs in 1899, now shines in new glory following extensive renovation and revitalization efforts. Under the direction of F+P ARCHITEKTEN and SHIBUKAWA EDER ARCHITECTS ZT GmbH, the historic building has been adapted to meet the requirements of the 21st century.

The redesigned school now offers state-of-the-art learning environments across 7,300 square meters. A particular highlight is the new, light-filled atrium, which serves as the heart of the school. Other measures include the expansion from 18 to 20 classrooms, a revitalized ceremonial hall, a new annex with multifunctional rooms, and an underground gymnasium. Especially noteworthy is the climate-friendly energy concept, which makes the school a sustainable and resource-efficient place for learning.

The feedback from the students has been overwhelming: “more modern – brighter – climate active” – this is how they describe their new school, which now sets new standards not only architecturally but also in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.

Elmar Danner, Managing Director of F+P, and project architect Christopher Emil Kreminger inspected the new balconies of the atrium during the opening and tested the optimized acoustics, which ensure a pleasant learning environment.

A special highlight of the opening was an art project by the school: On a large roll of paper, students, teachers, and guests of the opening ceremony were invited to leave their mark. F+P ARCHITEKTEN also left a heartfelt message – a creative finish to a successful project.

With this opening, another significant project in the educational landscape of Vienna has been realized, impressively linking history and future.

Title photo from left to right: Christoph Emil Kreminger (F+P ARCHITEKTEN), Gerald Beck (BIG), Raphael Eder (SHIBUKAWA EDER ARCHITECTS), Martin Polaschek (Minister for Education, Science, and Research), Elmar Danner (F+P ARCHITEKTEN).