Braunschweig: Lessing Gymnasium Expansion Breaks Ground as School Prepares for Future Growth
Braunschweig's Lessing Gymnasium breaks ground on €24.2M eco-friendly expansion
The additional building at Braunschweig's Lessing Gymnasium in the Wenden district, constructed around five years ago, is now entering its second phase of expansion. Today, officials marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the new extension.
The 27,200-square-foot expansion will provide the school with more general classrooms, small-group learning spaces, specialized rooms for physics and music, a drama studio, and additional meeting and administrative areas. This will allow the Lessing Gymnasium to operate as a five-stream (fünfzügig) school across all grade levels in its lower secondary division (Sekundarbereich I). Mayor Dr. Thorsten Kornblum laid the foundation stone for the second phase today.
Equipping Schools for Future Generations
"Ensuring our city's educational infrastructure is future-proof is a central priority of our construction program," emphasized Mayor Dr. Thorsten Kornblum. "We are preparing our schools for the generations to come, with the goal of providing the best possible learning and support conditions for all students. Only by doing so can Braunschweig remain an attractive place for families to live and work."
The expansion has also become necessary because the school can no longer rely on borrowed space from the neighboring primary school, which itself faces growing demand due to an expected four-stream (vierzügig) system and full-day operations. Student numbers are rising further with the development of the new Wenden-West residential area.
Completion Planned for 2028
Architecturally and functionally, the extension will seamlessly connect with the first phase, mirroring its design and façade—including the use of wooden elements. What was once a standalone structure will become a new three-story building with a square inner courtyard, according to a statement from the city.
The expansion will also reshape the schoolyard, introducing a green corridor with circular seating to enable outdoor lessons. New trees will provide shade, and the yard will span roughly 75,300 square feet once complete.
Designed in line with climate protection guidelines, the building will qualify for funding from Germany's KfW development bank as an eco-friendly new construction. It will feature extensive use of wood-based materials for the roof and façade, heat supply via heat pump, a green roof equipped with solar panels, and a rainwater harvesting system for reuse.
The total project is budgeted at €24.2 million, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2028.
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