In Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia, the Goethe School is being reimagined—not just rebuilt. With a €29.4 million investment, the city is delivering one of its largest educational infrastructure projects in years, combining architectural ambition with engineered timber precision.

The original school building was structurally compromised and economically unviable to renovate. In its place, a contemporary mass timber-framed school is constructed nearby—purpose-built for 324 students and designed to meet the pedagogical and environmental climate demands of the 21st century.

The former school site will soon be repurposed as a residential neighbourhood, completing a thoughtful urban regeneration strategy that balances education, housing, and community life.

Beyond the classroom

The new school is more than a place of learning—it’s a civic campus. The programme includes twelve classrooms, four multi-purpose rooms, a library, administrative offices, and a full-day school facility for 150 pupils, complete with a kitchen and dining areas. A generous assembly hall anchors the social heart of the building, while a caretaker’s suite, sports hall, and a dedicated learning pool extend the school’s function beyond the academic.

Outdoor spaces are equally considered. A landscaped schoolyard and sports grounds provide room to move, play, and gather—integral to the school’s holistic approach to education.

Rethinking the plan

Architecturally, the design breaks with the conventions of school planning. Gone is the rigid corridor-and-classroom model. In its place, an innovative floor plan encourages openness, flexibility, and spatial variety. The result is a learning environment that feels more like a civic pavilion than an institutional box—light-filled, legible, and welcoming.

Mass timber takes the lead

The new school building spans 4,400 m² and is joined by a 2,350 m² two-field sports hall and a teaching swimming pool. The design features a complex, angular floor plan and a dramatic cantilevered staircase in the foyer—floating without visible support, it’s a structural statement in itself.

Engineered for excellence

At the heart of the project in Marl lies a commitment to sustainable, high-performance construction. Stora Enso played a pivotal role in realising this vision, delivering a comprehensive suite of engineered timber solutions as the Sylva™ kit of parts that brought both architectural ambition with a very low carbon footprint to life.

The use of Sylva™ kit

The inclusion of 55 Sylva™ CLT Rib Floors—covering over 2,500 square metres—offered not only structural efficiency but also enhanced acoustic and thermal performance, critical for a modern learning environment. 

Sylva™ CLT Floors provide a robust yet lightweight structural system, enabling rapid assembly and reducing the carbon footprint compared to conventional materials.

Low carbon footprint

Designed to DGNB sustainability standards, the new Goethe School will accommodate 325 pupils in a climate-efficient, modern learning environment. It’s a case study in how mass timber can meet the demands of public infrastructure—beautifully, sustainably, and measurably.

Sports, swimming, and sustainability

The adjacent sports hall includes divisible courts, changing rooms, and a green flat roof. The teaching pool is built on strip foundations with a waterproof concrete tub. All building services are housed in the pool’s basement—compact, efficient, and future-ready.

Wood origins

The Sylva™ elements were made with wood sourced from PEFC-certified forests, ensuring that the timber used comes from sustainably managed forests. PEFC is one of the most trusted and widely recognised certifications for sustainable forest management.

About Ueding GmbH

Ueding GmbH is a family-run, innovative and technologically equipped mass timber company.  With 100 employees on over 28,000 m2 of operating space, they are committed every day to promoting modern mass timber construction.

Quick facts about the project

-2,000 m² of exterior walls

-1,900 m² of interior walls

-4,100 m² of ribbed ceilings

-2,160 m² of acoustic ceilings