Learning needs good spaces | Astrid Lindgren School, Weiterstadt
 

Modern learning environments, natural materials, and room acoustics designed to support focused learning:
For the new construction and refurbishment of the Astrid Lindgren School in Weiterstadt, we supplied almost 1,500 m² of our smartline

23/6 acoustic panels in silver fir.

The comprehensive redesign of this three-form-entry primary school combines two refurbished existing buildings with a newly constructed school building. The result is a modern educational environment featuring classrooms and differentiation spaces, along with shared facilities such as a cafeteria, library, assembly hall, and music room. The architecture reflects a contemporary educational concept, providing a variety of spaces for collaborative, individual, and flexible learning.

Architecture designed to support learning

The project was designed by prosa Architektur + Stadtplanung BDA. At its heart is a new timber building covering approximately 2,650 m², complemented by the energy-efficient and functional refurbishment of the existing buildings. Around 300 pupils now benefit from a new learning environment that brings together educational, architectural, and energy-efficiency requirements. The new building was constructed to the Passivhaus Plus Solar standard.

The natural choice of materials and colours continues throughout the interior. Here, our smartline 23/6 in silver fir blends seamlessly into the architectural concept. The light wood surface adds warmth and a natural character to the rooms, while the regular slotted pattern contributes to a calm, clean aesthetic.

Good room acoustics are an integral part of good educational architecture

In schools in particular, acoustics are about much more than comfort. Speech is the primary means of communication in the classroom. Excessive reverberation times can make spoken content more difficult to understand and cause sounds to overlap more strongly within a room. For pupils, this means greater effort is required to listen and concentrate, while teachers are exposed to increased acoustic strain.

For this reason, DIN 18041 explicitly addresses classrooms and group learning spaces in its requirements for acoustic quality in rooms, placing speech communication at the heart of acoustic planning. Studies by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also demonstrate the close relationship between reverberation time, speech intelligibility, and the acoustic quality of classrooms.

Contemporary educational concepts place even greater demands on room acoustics. When teacher-led instruction, group work, open learning areas, and individual support take place alongside one another, the architecture must respond acoustically as well as functionally.

smartline 23/6: acoustics and design in one system

This is precisely where the installed smartline 23/6 comes into its own. The slotted acoustic panels feature an integrated wood-fibre absorber, combining effective sound absorption with a high-quality natural wood finish. Depending on the installation build-up, the system achieves a weighted sound absorption coefficient of up to αw 0.85 and sound absorption class B. Its sound absorption performance has been tested in a reverberation room in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354.

At the Astrid Lindgren School, this functionality has been integrated particularly successfully into the interior design. Used extensively throughout the building, the panels do not appear as an acoustic solution added as an afterthought; instead, they become an integral part of the architectural design. The silver fir complements the bright, natural architectural language, combining a calm visual appearance with effective sound absorption.

Almost 1,500 m² of smartline 23/6

demonstrate how room acoustics and design can be considered as one from the outset – creating spaces where learning, communication, and interaction can all thrive.

A collaborative project

Our customer and partner for this project was BHG Baustoffhandel GmbH, based in Langenlonsheim.

The acoustic surfaces were professionally installed by Maler & Stuck e.K. from Ober-Ramstadt.

Project details

Project: Astrid Lindgren School, Braunshardt / Weiterstadt
Client: Da-Di-Werk, Darmstadt-Dieburg District
Architecture: prosa Architektur + Stadtplanung BDA
Project type: Refurbishment, conversion, and extension of a three-form-entry primary school
Completion: 2026
Product: akustikplus smartline 23/6
Finish: Silver fir
Scope of supply: approx. 1,500 m²
Customer: BHG Baustoffhandel GmbH, Langenlonsheim
Installation: Maler & Stuck e.K., Ober-Ramstadt
Photography: Lothar Rößling | panomondo