Just in time for the end of the fall vacations, ten school classes are once again learning in the classrooms of the renovated atrium of the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule. The classrooms in the two-storey building were completed in time for the end of the vacations. "With the renovated atrium, the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule has regained a central learning and recreation room. The former container classrooms have now been completely dismantled so that no child has to be taught in a temporary classroom in the schoolyard. I am delighted that the pupils are now being taught in a modern learning space and can use the inviting atrium again," said Paul-Gerhardt Weiß, Head of Education, on the completion of the classrooms.
Since December 2021, work has been taking place in several construction phases at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule while the school continues to operate. After around one and a half years of construction, the renovation and conversion work on the atrium is now almost complete. The façade work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Particular attention is being paid to improving the quality of the interior of the building - this has been visibly and audibly improved. New sound-absorbing elements under the high ceiling of the atrium ensure much more pleasant acoustics, especially during events. Wood wool acoustic panels on the ceilings in the classrooms also support speech intelligibility and thus create a more pleasant learning environment. This is complemented by a modern decentralized ventilation system. Two panels per room provide a continuous supply of fresh air without the need to open windows in the winter months.
For the extension, the city took its cue from the neighboring new building. In addition to modern window elements and acoustic ceilings, a friendly ochre-yellow color scheme was also adopted for the interior. The colorful accents emphasize wall areas and doors. Another new feature is the use of the large corridors as common areas. Comfortable seating and tables are now available on the upper floor, providing pupils with additional space for breaks and group work.
With the opening of the connecting doors, the atrium building is now also fully connected to the new building. Both parts of the building appear as a coherent ensemble both inside and out. Only one room is still under construction, where a modern media library is currently being built, which will be available to all pupils after completion.
The final step will be the renovation of the specialist classroom wing with rooms for science, art, music and handicrafts.
City invests in education
The city of Offenbach am Main has been continuously investing in modern school and daycare buildings since 2007. The reason for this is the rising number of children and the goal of creating optimal learning conditions for future generations. With pro rata support from the federal and state governments, over 409 million euros have already been invested in the construction and renovation of schools and daycare centers since 2007. Today, more than 60 percent of the approximately 18,800 pupils learn in completely new or fully renovated school buildings. A further 15 percent attend partially renovated facilities, while 5 percent attend schools that are currently being renovated or extended. Of a total of around 2,300 daycare children under the age of 6 in municipal facilities, around 80 percent attend new or completely renovated daycare centers. Construction projects worth around 265 million euros are currently being planned or under construction for schools.
The Building Construction Management department of the Office for Planning and Building is responsible for the measures as the owner's representative and client. It is responsible for the planning and development of the projects. The city council has commissioned OPG Offenbacher Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Offenbach, to manage all refurbishment and new construction projects. OPG implements many urban development projects on behalf of the city. In addition to project management for the construction and renovation of schools and daycare centers, these include the development and marketing of the port area and the Innovation Campus.