With KARLA – the Administrative and Educational Center of the Karlsruhe District, a forward-looking building ensemble is being created by 2028 that brings administration, education, and community together under one roof.
Located at Ettlinger Tor, the new development offers around 63,000 m² of gross floor area dedicated to modern working and learning environments that express openness, sustainability, and innovation.
KARLA serves as a landmark project for responsible construction, embodying the values of the region – efficiency, environmental awareness, and community – and translating them architecturally into the fabric of the city.

The project employs a timber–concrete hybrid construction, combining the advantages of both materials to optimal effect.
Timber forms the defining, visible structural element, creating a healthy indoor climate, warm tactile surfaces, and a low-carbon construction approach.
Concrete is used only where it is structurally or acoustically indispensable, or where fire protection demands maximum performance.
This deliberate choice of materials reflects a mindful approach to resources, merging sustainability with architectural clarity.

KARLA’s timber construction follows the principles of integrated structural wood protection.
Thoughtful detailing – including projecting roof overhangs, recessed façades, and sheltered connection zones – ensures the longevity of the timber without chemical treatments.
Particular attention is paid to separating load-bearing and cladding layers and ensuring effective moisture drainage.
The result is a low-maintenance, long-lasting structure that demonstrates how contemporary timber architecture can unite sustainability and technical precision.

KARLA meets ambitious energy performance criteria and is part of the KfW 432 district energy concept.
Its integrated energy strategy is based on an optimized building envelope, highly efficient building services, and intelligent control systems.
The goal is not only to minimize energy consumption but to create a truly sustainable building that aligns with modern green building certification standards – serving as a model for future public construction projects.

Comfortable indoor conditions throughout the year are ensured by an innovative cooling and ventilation concept built on natural processes and energy-efficient technology.
Through thermally activated components, controlled airflows, and adaptive regulation, the building is passively tempered and demand-driven cooled.
The outcome is exceptional thermal comfort with minimal energy use – a key contribution to both sustainability and occupant well-being.

KARLA’s fire protection strategy has been specially tailored to the requirements of a timber-dominant large-scale building in Class 5.
Developed in close collaboration with specialized engineers, the multi-layered safety concept intelligently combines active and passive protection measures.
Fire-resistant timber–concrete composite elements, fire zones, and automatic detection systems ensure the highest level of safety – without compromising the open, light-filled character of the architecture.

KARLA is far more than an administrative building – it is a place for interaction, education, and collaboration.
The flexible spatial layouts and open floor plan structures allow for a wide variety of uses: from training and conferences to office work and public events.
These adaptive spatial concepts encourage exchange, transparency, and efficiency, turning KARLA into a vibrant hub for the Karlsruhe District.

With its distinctive yet welcoming architecture, KARLA integrates harmoniously into the urban context at Ettlinger Tor.
The new complex strengthens the spatial link between the city center and the southern district, opening itself deliberately to the public realm.
Green open spaces, pedestrian pathways, and visual corridors connect the building with its surroundings, making it an identity-defining landmark in Karlsruhe’s cityscape – open, forward-looking, and sustainably designed.