20 years – 20 projects 🔙 Review: Leystraße 34 Elementary and Middle School, Vienna

Modern schoolyard of Leystraße Primary School with colorful railings, open balconies, and children playing outdoors.

Building education means: shaping the future! The renovation and extension of the elementary and middle school at Leystraße 34 has resulted in the technical refinement of the school site. The design by hey! architektur, winner of an EU-wide implementation competition in 2020, was completed on schedule in fall 2024.

The complex project combines a completely renovated existing building with new school cluster buildings in reinforced concrete construction. Four upper floors are arranged in terraces around an inner courtyard, set back on the courtyard side and connected structurally and functionally via balconies and terraces. The terraces compensate for limited open space and extend the educational space to the outside.

The structured street façade was preserved through carefully coordinated thermal measures. Classically organized floor plans minimized interventions in the supporting structure, while impact sound-insulating dry screed structures and acoustic ceilings made of magnesite-bonded wood wool significantly improved the building’s physical quality.

The load transfer of the gymnasium above a parking level was particularly challenging. Due to an existing district heating pipe, only a partial column grid was possible, which required high precision in planning and execution. In addition, external sun protection reduces overheating in summer.

Our team supported this project in the areas of structural engineering, building physics, and as test engineers, thereby making a significant contribution to its safe, sustainable, and long-term implementation.

Congratulations to hey! architektur on coming second in the 2025 Flat Roof Contest 🏆 A well-deserved award for architectural quality, structural design and responsible use of existing buildings.

Hard Facts:
📍 Elementary and middle school at Leystraße 34, Vienna
🏛 Architecture: hey! architektur, bumeder wehmann architekten PartGmbB
👥 Client: hey! architektur, bumeder wehmann architekten PartGmbB
🛠 Our contribution: Structural engineering, building physics, test engineer, building logbook
📸 Photos: © Schreyer David

Exterior staircase of Leystraße Primary School with modern yellow railings, in the background the green schoolyard with play area and sports field.
Modern schoolyard of Leystraße Primary School with colorful railings, open balconies, and children playing outdoors.
Modern schoolyard architecture of Leystraße Primary School with open galleries, colorful railings, and outdoor seating areas.
Illuminated outdoor area of Leystraße Primary School in Vienna with a modern staircase and wooden seating islands at dusk.
Rooftop garden of Leystraße Primary School with green plants in pink raised beds and a translucent net as a canopy.
Bright and modern cafeteria of Leystraße Primary School with creative round acoustic elements on the ceiling and children playing.
Modern school gymnasium with bright flooring, wooden and concrete walls, where several children are actively engaging in sports.
Modern perforated metal facade of Leystraße Primary School in Vienna with a passage and covered parking area.
Modern Leystraße Primary School in Vienna with innovative metal facade and large windows on a green urban street.
Facade of Leystraße Primary School in Vienna showing both historic and modern building elements, with a city bus in front.