Facade Systems in Karl-Franzens University | Sto

Sto provides products & systems for building facades, external wall insulation, interior walls and ceilings, acoustics, industrial floor coatings, and concrete restoration. Various products by Sto were used in the renovation of the Karl-Franzens University library, located in Graz, Austria.

To modernize the Karl-Franzens University library, architects removed sections to reveal the original structure and added vertical glass space, cantilevered over the new entrance to form a canopy for a public square. The design merges classic and contemporary elements seamlessly.

The Karl-Franzens University library, a mix of its 1895 building and later additions, was redesigned by Atelier Thomas Pucher. They removed a 1970s foyer that hid the original facade, creating an open campus square and a vertical extension for added space, merging historic restoration with modern design.

Sgraffito artwork

Sto's StoMiral MP and StoColor Badigeon were used to create the striking underside of the canopy with an enlarged illustration from a 17th-century copperplate engraving book. The historical sgraffito technique, where motifs are scratched into wet plaster, was used for the art-in-architecture project. Created on-site by seven plasterers over three months, the sculptural relief was formed using stencils.

Ventilated facade system

Sto's Ventilated Rainscreen Cladding Facade System and StoVentec Glass Panel (6mm ESG in color RAL 9017, mirrored) formed the building's "joinery" with mirrored glass panels. The facade recedes into the background, emphasizing the effect of the demarcated buildings.

Acoustic system

Sto's Suspended Acoustic System, StoSilent Distance, StoSilent Top Basic and StoSilent Top Finish were installed in the building's entrance foyer for acoustic comfort. The acoustic system improves the sound properties of the room while maintaining its beautiful design.