Basisschool Pacelli

The main building of the Pacelli School is a municipal listed building dating from 1952. The design for the renovation and expansion of the school is based on the principle that the existing school remains unaffected and together with the new addition forms a single building while creating new and interesting spaces for multiple uses.

The Pacelli School is one of the few remaining intact school buildings created in the traditional style during the first decade after World War II, and is a typical example of a ‘corridor school’. Dating from the post-war reconstruction period, the building features intricate detailing in a traditionalist style. A year after the main building was completed, an extension was added to accommodate pre-school rooms. This later addition is being removed to make place for a new building. In addition, the main building has been extensively renovated.

A single-level extension is constructed alongside the main building and connected to it by means of an atrium with timber roof trusses, creating a school building with a bright and spacious heart. The atrium can also be linked to the playroom to provide a multipurpose accommodation for use as teaching areas, or to accommodate special events and parent meetings.

In the new layout, the facade of the main building has become the interior wall of the new extension. To optimise the contact between the existing building and the new extension, a number of the existing windows has been combined and fitted with balconies to serve as teaching area extensions for pupils doing work outside their classroom.

The narrow ends of the new volume feature concrete frames with large windows. The long side is constructed in brickwork matching the brickwork of the existing listed building.