The Volta Primary School is located in the border area to France, on the edge of the industrial area of Basel, Switzerland. The new building was planned by the Architect Firm of Messrs. Miller & Maranta and was opened in 2000. It provides room for 12 classrooms, as well as a double gymnasium in the basement. The cramped situation on the south side of the existing coal storage hall was solved by a “layered” internal structure in combination with internal courtyards. The building has been awarded several architectural prizes for its innovative concept and consistently implemented architectural expression.

The renovation of the Volta Primary School is part of a large-scale modernization of school buildings in the Canton of Basel-City. The spatial measures include the integration of a new multi-purpose hall and the redesign of the outdoor space with a pavilion, bicycle shelters and playground equipment. The technical renovations include the complete renewal of the electrical and media equipment as well as the optimization of the room acoustics and the summer thermal insulation.