The Nelly-Pütz-Berufskolleg: Sustainable new building in Düren stands for structural change
More space for the rapidly growing education and nursing courses: A modern new building is being built for around 1,200 students at the Nelly-Pütz vocational college in Düren and its 100 teachers, using climate and environmentally friendly processes. As part of the Düren Innovation Quarter, the vocational college is a visible sign of structural change in the Rhenish mining area.
Modern equipment - sustainable construction
In the new five-storey building , young people will be trained in childcare, social assistance, curative education and as nursery teachers - professions that are needed and for which demand is constantly growing. The vocational college also offers a fully-fledged Abitur. Due to a lack of space, some of the students are still housed in school containers. This will change at the beginning of 2027: they will then find a spacious and modern learning environment that meets today's technical requirements. The facilities will be complemented by an assembly hall, a two-stream daycare center and a three-field sports hall with stands, which will also be available to local sports clubs. During construction, photovoltaic systems on the roofs and above the parking lot will generate environmentally friendly electricity, while heating will be provided by a heat pump and underfloor heating. Sustainability is also a priority when it comes to mobility: Charging stations for e-bikes and electric cars are naturally included.
Sign of structural change
As one of the first buildings in the new Düren Innovation Quarter, the Nelly-Pütz-Berufskolleg is being designed as an open campus. Centrally located on the southern station forecourt, it is part of the mixed-use urban quarter, in which modern research and development facilities are to be located - as a visible sign of structural change and a "motor for the city center", according to Düren's Mayor Frank Peter Ullrich at the foundation stone laying ceremony in April 2025. Ideally located close to the train station, it can also make Düren more attractive as an educational location beyond the region. The investment in the vocational training infrastructure, which is funded by the Just Transition Fund (JTF), is intended to make an important contribution to the success of the transformation process and structural change in the Rhenish mining area.
Strong orientation towards Europe
The Nelly-Pütz-Berufskolleg has a strong European focus due to its proximity to the neighboring countries of the Netherlands, Belgium and France: Erasmus+ programs combine language lessons with work placements ("Living and working in Europe"). Further training in other European countries and cooperation with European partner organizations enable international exchange, from which students and teachers benefit. Europe is also part of everyday school life in Düren: the convenient location on the Cologne-Aachen railroad line enables pupils from the Netherlands and Belgium to attend the Nelly-Pütz-Berufskolleg.
If you are interested in the touching story of Nelly Pütz, who gave the school its name, you can find out more on the vocational college website.
