Wipkingen church becomes an educational space
The Wipkingen church in Zurich is undergoing a transformative conversion and will in future serve as an extended educational space for the neighbouring Waidhalde school complex. An innovative architectural project makes it possible to creatively cover the school's increased space requirements.
The Wipkingen church is a remarkable example of adaptive space utilisation. No longer used for church services since 2019, it is now intended to meet the space requirements of the neighbouring Waidhalde school complex. A concept developed by Vécsey Schmidt Architekten BSA SIA in collaboration with Anderegg Partner AG won the architectural competition and promises a cautious yet future-oriented transformation. A newly installed ceiling allows for the creation of a multi-purpose room, a library and catering facilities at ground floor level, while the upper floor offers flexible usage options under the historic church vault.
André Odermatt, Head of Building Construction, emphasises the importance of this initiative: “The intelligent conversion of existing buildings is essential in order to meet current challenges in urban areas.” The project not only provides solutions to the urgent need for school space, but also strengthens cooperation between the city and the church.
Thanks to this conversion, the necessary rooms for six to eight additional classes will be created by the 2031/32 school year. Filippo Leutenegger, Head of School, sees this as an example of the effective utilisation of creative solutions.
The cooperation with the Reformed parish of Zurich has already borne fruit and plans to open up further church buildings for charitable purposes. The project in Wipkingen is just the beginning of a series of initiatives that prioritise community benefit.
The estimated construction costs amount to CHF 7.5 million, with completion planned for 2026, in time for the start of school in 2026/27. This project marks an important step in Zurich’s evolutionary urban development by showing how historical substance can be meaningfully brought into the future.