The state of Schleswig-Holstein is expanding the capacity of the reception center for asylum seekers in Neumünster. A new multifunctional building will be constructed on the site of the former Scholtz Barracks, housing administrative offices for the State Office for Immigration and Refugees, as well as spaces for care services, facility management, education, and recreational activities. The new multifunctional building bridges past and present through its architectural design, creating a central spatial hub among the former barracks buildings. The existing bunker structures in the base level are integrated and serve as a foundation for new spatial edges, defining various outdoor areas: a representative forecourt with a main entrance, a functional service zone, and a plaza as a meeting and communication space.
The building is devided into four clearly defined volumes for schooling, adult education, administration, and recreation, all connected by a central atrium. This atrium acts as a spatial link, enables natural ventilation, and extends the public plaza into the building’s interior. The recreational area, elevated on pilotis, mediates between indoor and outdoor spaces, becoming a vibrant place for interaction and exchange.