Since its foundation in 1977, the Bochum-based

architectural office SSP AG, with locations in

Bochum and Karlsruhe, has been realizing a

large number of real-estate and building projects

throughout Germany. With an interdisciplinary planning

team of architects, engineers, and real-estate

economists, and other experts, new and innovative

solutions are found for each project in cooperative

collaboration. The resulting concepts are characterized

by successful identification, high efficiency

and good design.

In 2013, after a Europe-wide tendering procedure,

SSP AG was commissioned with the overall

planning of renovation and construction of extensions

and new buildings for the Fritz-Henßler-

Berufskolleg in Dortmund. The listed building complex

of a former arts-and-crafts and craftsmen

school in the Dortmund city centre was in great

need of renovation. The task was to satisfy a fixed

spatial programme taking into account the building

fabric worthy of preservation, both in the existing

building stock and through extensions and

new buildings. The extension by two building

blocks in a strict, functional design language and

with clearly structured façades allows for an exciting

and yet harmonious combination of old and

new. Through a sensitive 'carry on building' of

the existing building stock, a successful new interpretation

of the existing fabric was created.

For the 'extremely successful handling' of

the historically significant stock and the 'highquality

' restoration in accordance with the regulations

for listed buildings, the architects were

awarded the North Rhine-Westphalia School-

Construction Prize 2018 by the Ministry for Schools

and Education and the Chamber of Architects of

North RhineWestphalia, as well as the German

Design Award 2019, the best architects Award

2020 and the Otto Borst Prize for Urban Renewal

2020.