Source: Deutsche Nachrichten
With the renovation of the indoor swimming pool and the Geest gymnasium, the town of Olfen in North Rhine-Westphalia has set a pioneering example of how to modernise municipal sports infrastructure. A key contribution towards achieving the renovation goals of this project was made by the Schüco aluminium façade systems used.
Built in 1964, the building complex was no longer up to modern standards due to its age, heavy use and significant structural deficiencies. Instead of constructing a newbuild, the local authority opted to fully renovate the existing building – with the idea of enabling the old walls to “make new waves”. The decision to renovate was based on urban planning, ecological and cost-related advantages. Not least because the project was supported by funding from the German federal programme for the “Renovation of Municipal Facilities in the Fields of Sport, Youth and Culture”.
Renovation aim 1: Retaining the site and the existing fabric of the building
Another factor in favour of retaining the existing building structure was that a newbuild with a larger swimming pool would have only been possible at a different location. The town would have therefore lost its central sports facility, which is easily reachable on foot for local schools and clubs. Therefore, the decision to renovate not only safeguarded the valuable fabric of the building, but also the crucial central location of the sports centre.
As part of the renovation, the building complex was stripped back to the building shell and completely refurbished. Load-bearing components were retained and damaged constructions were replaced. This re-use of the existing structure enabled the existing components – and the “grey emissions” they contain – to be kept.
However, the renovation was not restricted to the technical retention of the existing building. The aim was also to give the sports centre a new identity. To do this, the architects carefully expanded the existing facility. A new covered entrance with a barrier-free ramp has improved the accessibility of the centre and enhanced the building’s presence in the urban space. The new building envelope combines sandstone-coloured recycled bricks – inspired by the design of public buildings in Olfen – with greeny-blue glass areas that hint at the building’s use as a swimming pool.
One special feature is the new street-facing façade of the swimming pool. With its large mullion/transom construction, the building opens out towards the town. The “viewing windows” at the front allow natural light to flood deep into the swimming pool hall, while also preventing onlookers from looking straight in at the swimmers and creating a striking visual effect from a distance within the urban landscape. The glass façade is therefore an architectural symbol for the transformation of the former, introverted purpose-built gymnasium into a modern, open and inviting sports centre.
Renovation aim 2: Reducing the energy requirements of the building
One main aim was the energy-efficient upgrade of the entire building complex. The building envelope was fully modernised, and the roofs and façades were refurbished and upgraded to meet current insulation standards. New window, façade and door systems considerably improve the thermal insulation. While the old windows achieved U values at best of 3.0 W/m²K, the new constructions boast values as low as 1.3-1.5 W/m²K.
In addition, modern water and ventilation systems equipped with heat recovery were installed, as well as photovoltaic panels on the roof. These measures are also evident in the energy performance metrics: The primary energy requirements of the building have reduced from 425 to 225 kWh/m²a, while CO₂ emissions have fallen from 72 to 48 kg CO₂/m²a.
The Schüco aluminium systems installed make an important contribution towards achieving these results. The Schüco AWS 75.SI highly thermally insulated window systems feature Uw values of between 1.3 and 1.5 W/m²K (before Uw = approx. 3.0 W/m²K), the Schüco AD UP 75 external doors achieve Ud values of approx. 1.8 W/m²K (before Ud = approx. 4.0 W/m²K), and natural ventilation of the space is supported by motorised opening units. For the swimming pool hall, the façade systems were also treated with a process known as pre-anodising in order to withstand the constant exposure to moisture and chlorides.
Renovation aim 3: Improving the usage conditions
In addition to reducing energy consumption and improving the functionality of the building, the focus was on quality for the users. The swimming pool has been re-developed as a modern health and fitness centre – a “swimming pool for all”. A new movable floor enables flexible use for swimming lessons, club sports and rehabilitation sessions, as well as barrier-free access to the pool.
The sports hall was also designed with the needs of its users in mind. New flooring with underfloor heating, improved acoustics, modern ventilation technology and glare-free natural light create the optimum conditions for school, club and recreational sports. The new, clearly structured layout makes it easier to find your way around the building. Barrier-free access, unobstructed views and light-coloured materials make it a place where all user groups want to spend time.
“For us, the decision to carry out the renovation was much more than just a building project. We wanted to keep this important sports facility central within the town, especially for the local schools and sports clubs, and make sensible use of the existing building structure while also creating a modern environment for schools, clubs and local residents. State funding played a crucial role here and demonstrated how public investment can facilitate solutions for the renovation and continued use of existing buildings. With the modernised sports and swimming centre, Olfen now has a future-proof infrastructure for sport, health and fitness,” explains Sandra Berghof-Knop, Head of the Department for General Administration, Education, Leisure and Intergenerational Affairs, and Commercial Management of the Public Pools in Olfen.
With the renovation of the indoor swimming pool and Geest gymnasium, the town of Olfen is demonstrating how existing municipal buildings can be made fit for the future through intelligent modernisation, energy efficiency upgrades and usage concepts designed for the long term.
For more information, visit www.schueco.com
Project details:
Project: Renovation of a sports centre (sports and swimming centre)
Location: Von-Vincke-Straße 2, 59399 Olfen
Client: Town of Olfen
Architecture: Scholz Partner Architekten, Senden
Window and façade fabricator: Heinrich Hellweg GmbH & Co. KG, Sundern
Completion date: December 2025
Schüco systems used
Mullion/transom façade: Schüco FWS 50.SI, Schüco AWS 75.SI+ insert units with SHEVS actuator, pre-anodised surfaces
Internal glass wall: Schüco FWS 35 PD.HI, Schüco FWS 35 PD frame construction
Window units in the sports hall and corridor: Schüco AWS 75.SI+, Schüco TipTronic bottom-hung vent fitting, profile-integrated SHEVS motorised chain drive
Emergency exits in the swimming pool hall and swimming instructors’ room: Schüco AD UP 75, multi-point locking with panic function, GfS door guard system
Fire doors: Schüco FireStop ADS 90 FR30, pre-anodised surfaces
Building automation: SHEVS with TipTronic SimplySmart (motor-driven natural ventilation)
Smart Building Solution: IoF ID (Internet of Façades)
Key data
Type of building: Swimming pool and sports hall
Location: Town of Olfeon
Year built: 1964 / renovated in 2026
Replacements: Approx. 222 m² of windows; approx. 22 m² of external doors; approx. 853 m² of façade (using the DIN 18599 calculation model); U values for the windows: Before: Uw = approx. 3.0 W/m²K, After: 1.3-1.5 W/m²K; External doors: Before: Ud = approx. 4.0 W/m²K, After: 1.8 W/m²K
Total energy requirement of building: Before: 268 kWh/m2a, After: 200 kWh/m²a
Primary energy requirement of building: Before: 425 kWh/m²a, After: 225 kWh/m²a
CO2 emissions of building: Before: 72 kgCO2/m²a, After: 48 kg CO2/m²a
Reference area: 1486 m²