The Wilhelm-Leuschner-School (WLS) in Niestetal is an integrated comprehensive school in the Kassel district for children and young people in grades 5 to 10. With over 700 students and a staff of over 60 teachers, it is one of the district’s medium-sized comprehensive schools. The WLS is growing. To make this possible, new construction and renovation work will be necessary. The structural changes offer the opportunity to design the new and existing spaces and functions in accordance with the WLS’s educational concept.

In Phase Zero, from May 2023 to February 2024, structural and pedagogical aspects of school development were considered together. The goal was to develop a sound basis for the subsequent construction phases. Phase Zero was conducted as part of a participatory process involving interviews and workshops. Up to 45 people participated in each workshop, including representatives from the school administration, faculty, students, and parents, as well as representatives from the Kassel district and the HHS architectural firm commissioned with the new building and renovation planning.

The participatory group developed and articulated diverse and sometimes conflicting interests regarding the building’s structural and pedagogical development and integrated them into a shared overall project. This multi-perspective exchange laid the foundation for successful future sharing, participation, and contribution. The initial planning phase was described by the participatory group as creative and enriching.