As part of the redesign and general refurbishment, the two very different building complexes, which were originally built in 1969, underwent highly differentiated facelifts in line with the varying spatial requirements of the two disciplines of architecture and engineering science. The glass façade of the “architecture workshop” has a playful openness whereas the sharp silhouette of the engineering faculty tower has become a landmark for the whole campus. The lively and varied appearance of the architecture building contrasts clearly with the calm, precise effect of the engineering tower, and yet the sense of ensemble remains. The campus nature of the site was also reinforced by the creation of a learning center and generous foyer at ground floor level.
The work also included the complete refurbishment of all thermal, building services, electrical, fire protection and escape route aspects of the main and ancillary buildings of both faculties. As the buildings are located in the flight security corridor of Innsbruck Airport, the design had to take a number of additional special requirements into account. As it is located in a tower, these requirements applied especially to the Faculty of Engineering Science.
Innovative highlights include the compound top-hinged windows with integrated solar protection which were specially developed for the high-rise tower of the Faculty of Engineering Science. These can be controlled by the building services management system and facilitate the automatic cooling of the building on summer evenings. So-called “integrated overflows” in the office tower ensure that fresh air is mechanically drawn into the depths of the building from outside. This makes it possible for this to be a high density, compact low-tech building which is largely naturally ventilated and meets the requirements of the EnerPHit “Passive House Refurbishment Standard”.
