Facility
KWS Energy Knowledge is active all over the world, but like any well-organized business it needs a strong home base. Initially, this home base was in Bergerhausen, a central section of the city of Essen, Germany, but since 1995, KWS calls the Deilbachtal in Essen-Kupferdreh home. Located in an unusually rustic environment, the KWS facility was originally conceived for 30 staffers. Since then, KWS’s faculty and staff numbers have more than doubled.
With the need for more space for personnel and equipment becoming ever more apparent after the turn of the 21st century, the existing premises were considerably extended and modernized in 2010. Today, there is ample room for additional simulators, laboratories, classrooms, administrative offices and other infrastructure elements needed to run a state-of-the-art training institution.
Building sections housing the various KWS departments are color-coded similar to the Power Plant Identification System to facilitate orientation. Extensive use of plate glass and generously-spaced hallways and break areas create a bright, welcoming atmosphere conducive to making staffers, students and visitors feel at ease immediately.
Some KWS trainees spend many weeks or even months in a row in Essen due to their extensive training schedule. For their benefit, the school operates its own apartment building. This facility replaces an older site in another part of Essen that was built more than 45 years ago. It is located directly on the KWS campus, facing the training center, effectively combining teaching, living, and leisure areas in one place. The two-floor building contains 54 residential units and four workrooms that feature the same technical equipment as KWS’s classrooms, providing the necessary conditions for after-school group work and team studies.
After the day’s work is done, trainees may either seek recreation at nearby Lake Baldeney or on the meadows of the Ruhr River. Alternatively, there are the thrills of a big city – Essen is a just a 30-minute drive away.
KWS Apartment Building
LIVING
Room for everything: Training, relaxation, get-together
Since its grand opening in July 2013, participants have been availing themselves of the comforts of our new apartment building on the Energy-Campus Deilbachtal. Whether it’s chilling out in the privacy of one’s own apartment, shooting the breeze in the kitchen or working out in the gym, trainees can take their pick. It’s only a short walk to the school, so no excuse for being late for class. Don’t like to cook your own meals? Take your breakfast and lunch in the campus restaurant of KWS right next door of the apartment building. This is what you get:
- TV and WLAN in all apartments
- Different leisure rooms
- Common kitchen
- Library
LEISURE
Indoors or outdoors? Countryside or City?
The unique location of the KWS – surrounded by nature on the one hand, situated on the edge of a lively metropolis of the Ruhr region on the other hand – opens up various possibilities beyond training and learning. In the city of Essen and its surroundings visitors may experience (industrial) culture, shopping facilities and entertainment suiting everyone’s taste.
Those who prefer to stay in the countryside may visit the Ruhr meadows or Lake Baldeney, which invites people to take a walk as well as to use the opportunity of surfing and sailing. And those who prefer to stay on the campus will find numerous possibilities to spend their time:
- Garden with BBQ area, outdoor chess and table tennis
- Fitness and leisure rooms with pool table and table football
- Meeting point with XXL TV set
- Roofed patio
LEARNING
Individually or together – Optimal learning conditions
Primarily learning is the main concern on the campus of the KWS, because that is what our participants come for. To create the conditions for optimal learning results was the main object for the design of our apartment building. This includes a comfortable working environment as well as up-to-date technical equipment. Light and spacious working rooms are freely accessible at any time and are, as a matter of course, equipped with all usual means for work.
- Light rooms for a comfortable working environment
- Common rooms offer plenty of space for group work
- Tools as beamer and flip chart are always available
- Silence in the apartment for intensive individual work
