One of the largest and most modern lecture institutions in Europe is officially open on the RWTH Aachen University campus (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule) in Germany. A new building with an area of 14,000 sq. m. under the name C. A. R. L. (Central Auditorium for Research and Teaching) offers space for over 4,000 students and includes 11 lecture halls, 16 seminar rooms, lounges, cafes, as well as technical infrastructure and underground bicycle parking. The compact building consists of two solid masses, united by an airy transparent atrium that unites several informal spaces of different sizes, forming squares and terraces for social activity and the exchange of knowledge.
The Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects project is part of the main strategy for the development of RWTH Aachen University as a large-scale urban complex. And when it came to choosing the external facade of the building, the architects proposed a material made from natural components, but at the same time resistant to graffiti. 6,000 square meters of EQUITONE [natura] fiber cement panels were perfect for this idea.
To accentuate the contrasting spaces of the building, dark panels have been used for embedded auditoriums, while light panels accentuate open, dynamic social areas. What's more, color-coded seams accentuate the building's outer façade, creating a contemporary style.
Architects: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Höhler + Partner Architekten
Engineers: Werner Sobek Stuttgart GmbH, Klett Ingenieur GmbH