A primary school has been built right on the Baakenhafen, on one of Hamburg’s most challenging building sites. This project demonstrates what modern school construction can look like: functional, resilient and forward-looking. Our team at the Hamburg branch was involved from the very beginning and provided technical and planning support throughout the construction process. Together, we succeeded in bringing this challenging project to fruition – despite complex geological and technical conditions.

Building a school on challenging terrain

This project was not just about constructing a new building, but about tackling complex planning and construction challenges at the Baakenhafen site. Here, right on the banks of the Elbe, in the heart of one of Hamburg’s most dynamic development areas, a primary school has been built that blends perfectly into its urban surroundings. Despite the limited space available, the design offered solutions that are both functionally and aesthetically compelling. The two-storey sports hall in the basement saves space, whilst the school playground on the roof provides an area for play and physical activity.

However, the site presented its own challenges: situated directly on the banks of the River Elbe, the land was heavily contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (MKW) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to its former use as a tar storage facility for the port.

Added to this was its location directly on the River Elbe, just 40 metres from a body of water where a tidal range of up to 3.5 metres causes water levels to fluctuate significantly, making groundworks even more challenging.

Yet even on this difficult terrain, a secure foundation for the new primary school was successfully established.

The challenges of a unique location

Our team was involved in the planning and implementation of the project right from the start. One of the key tasks was to prepare the site: a comprehensive grid survey revealed that the soil at depths of between two and six metres was heavily contaminated with MKW and PAHs. To ensure safe site remediation, ‘black’ and ‘white’ zones were established, involving the strict separation of contaminated and uncontaminated work areas. Contaminated excavated material was disposed of in a controlled manner.

In parallel, detailed site and foundation surveys were carried out to ensure the long-term stability of the school building. With the aid of a watertight trough-shaped excavation pit, fitted with a bored pile wall and a solid HDI base, both the structural loads and the protection against uplift were ensured by means of compression and tension piles.