“Verbund Hydro Power’s new apprentice campus near the Danube River is a modern training centre combining contemporary design and timber-based construction approaches to support the education of future skilled professionals

Verbund Hydro Power has invested approximately EUR 12.3 million in a new apprentice campus focused on training in electrical and metal technology. The project reflects the company’s investment in modern training infrastructure and the development of future skilled professionals for the operation of its power plants in Austria.

The new campus is designed to be a flexible and adaptable training center, aimed at attracting the brightest minds. VERBUND provides top-notch vocational training in-house, ensuring that their power plant operators are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge. The focus on electrical and metal technology training is particularly pertinent, given the critical role these disciplines play in the maintenance and operation of hydropower plants.

Design

One of the main features of the new campus is its accommodation facilities. The campus provides accommodation in 42 single rooms, offering comfortable living quarters for apprentices. This includes three wheelchair-accessible seminar rooms, ensuring that the training center is inclusive and accessible to all. The inclusion of a kitchen that can be opened for large events of up to 200 participants highlights the campus's versatility, making it suitable for a variety of functions beyond regular training sessions.

Architecture

“The campus designed by Viereck Architekten combines contemporary design with timber-based construction. A concrete ground floor provides the structural base, while the two upper floors were constructed using prefabricated Sylva™ mass timber elements. The exposed timber surfaces contribute to the architectural character and interior atmosphere of the building.

Sustainability

The hybrid timber construction, together with materials such as wood, stone, and textiles, defines the building’s architectural concept. Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems were integrated to support indoor comfort.

The Sylva kit only generated 28 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO₂e) to manufacture and 0.05  tonnes of CO₂e to transport the 3.5 km to the construction site from the mill. Compared to the 412 tonnes of carbon dioxide that the trees removed while growing and will store in the building, this amount is a small fraction. Choosing Sylva CLT elements instead of non-renewable materials avoided 618 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Source: Stora Enso Carbon Calculator. 

Location

The design of the campus takes full advantage of its picturesque location near the Danube River. Large glass openings on all floors offer spectacular views of the river, creating a serene and inspiring environment for learning and development.

The connection to nature is further enhanced by the park-like complex linking the workshop to the new campus. This outdoor area is designed to foster interaction and collaboration among apprentices, with terraces providing spaces for relaxation and informal gatherings.

Inside the building, the layout is thoughtfully planned to balance spaces for communication and retreat, providing the apprentices with areas where they can engage in group activities and discussions, as well as quiet zones for individual study and reflection.

Awards

2025 Architizer A+ Award in the "Architecture + Wood" category

2025 Niederösterreichischen Holzbaupreis nominiert /Lower Austrian Timber Construction Award nomination

2023 European Property Awards Mixed Use Architecture Award  

BIGSEE Architecture Award

2025 BIGSEE Interior Design Award 2025

Learn more about the advantages of mass timber; download the whitepaper