Collegiate Residence – Haus Overbach Jülich

The picturesque, listed farmstead consists of a Renaissance castle, a sports hall with an overlying auditorium, and a long brick building (approx. 100 years old, former boarding school). The boarding school was converted into an accessible, modern collegiate residence by integrating seminar, living, and lounge areas, which nevertheless harmoniously blend into the existing historic building structure. In the brick building, clearing out the center of the building up to a height of 9 meters created an inviting entrance hall with great transparency towards the castle courtyard and the lily pond. The adjacent sports hall, along with all ancillary rooms, was renovated. Here, due to mining damage, a new thermally insulated reinforced concrete floor slab was installed, complete with a sports hall double-floor system. In the listed moated castle, the historic rooms were converted into modern seminar rooms. Furthermore, an administrative floor for the entire complex was created. In the basement, the historic vaults are currently being structurally secured and upgraded in close cooperation with monument preservation authorities. A dining room or café use in a historic setting is planned here.

Beneath the church of the entire complex is a large dining and multi-purpose hall used by the grammar school, castle guests, and guests of the newly renovated collegiate residence [Franz von Sales Hof]. In response to new requirements for the premises, a fire protection renovation of the areas is taking place. Additional exits are being created, doors are being renewed, and stairwells are being compartmentalized.

The school administration, as well as the teacher work and lounge areas, were relocated within the grammar school. For this purpose, parts of the building were gutted and redesigned. Old classrooms were repurposed. In this process, the entire building was equipped with a comprehensive fire alarm system.