Sophienschule Hamburg - A timber hybrid structure that looks into the future

In April 2026, the Archdiocese of Hamburg and Otto Wulff Bauunternehmung GmbH celebrated the completion of the new building of the Catholic Sophienschule in Hamburg. The three-form-entry pre- and primary school was constructed as a timber hybrid construction combining exposed concrete with a premium exposed timber construction. The project marks a significant milestone in Otto Wulff Bauunternehmung's young "timber construction" field and was strongly supported by the timber construction expertise of the HASSLACHER group.

Project overview

The new building is located on an approximately 3,600-square-metre site in Hamburg's Barmbek district and provides space not only for a three-form-entry primary school, but also for a pre-school and a daycare centre. Up to 360 children can now be taught and cared for there, representing a significant increase compared to the previous capacity of 240 pupils.

The new school building comprises a lower level and three upper storeys. To make optimal use of the limited space available, part of the schoolyard was relocated to the roof. This elevated outdoor area serves as a school garden or green classroom and makes a valuable contribution to both the educational quality and the quality of stay at the facility.

Special project features

For the realisation of the timber construction, the HASSLACHER group supplied 400 m³ of glued laminated timber (glulam) produced at its Kleinheubach site in Germany (HASSLACHER Holzbauteile GmbH & Co. KG), a company of the HASSLACHER group, as well as 19 m³ of cross-laminated timber (CLT) produced at its Stall im Mölltal site in Austria (NORITEC Holzindustrie GmbH), a company of the HASSLACHER group.

Planning and implementation took place in close cooperation with the team of HASSLACHER Building Solutions GmbH, a company of the HASSLACHER group, which developed a comprehensive weather protection concept together with Otto Wulff Bauunternehmung GmbH. Assembly was carried out by Otto Wulff's own staff with expert support from Holzbau HOFER GmbH, a company of the HASSLACHER group.

The school's structural shell was completed in just four months, from June to September 2024, demonstrating the potential of modern prefabricated timber construction combined with efficient project organisation. Following the subsequent fit-out phase, the new building was officially inaugurated in spring 2026. Otto Wulff Bauunternehmung GmbH from Hamburg acted as the client. Architectural planning was carried out by Bieling Architekten from Hamburg, while the engineering consultancy Drewes Speth from Hanover was responsible for structural engineering and construction design. The client of the pioneering school building was the Archiepiscopal Vicariate General of Hamburg.

This successful collaboration highlights the expertise of the HASSLACHER group in ecological timber construction projects and reflects the growing interest in timber as a future-oriented building material for educational facilities. The Sophienschule Hamburg project exemplifies the successful combination of innovative architecture, sustainable construction and future-oriented educational infrastructure, true to the motto: "From wood to wonders."