City provides further additional funding for Geschwister-Scholl-Schule
18.08.2025
For the successful completion of the construction project at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule, the municipal council is releasing additional funds, subject to the approval of the city councillors. The total costs for the renovation and extension of the integrated comprehensive school with primary level have now increased to around 47.95 million euros. "The cost increase of around 8.45 million euros is mainly due to market price increases, unforeseen additional costs for the new extension and extended rental costs for the interim facility," explains Head of Planning and Construction Paul-Gerhard Weiß.
The city councillors had already made an additional ten million euros available to the Planning and Building Department in 2022. The reasons for the cost increases can be attributed to two main factors: Further price increases in the construction industry and, once again, unforeseen additional measures. According to OPG Offenbacher Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Offenbach, which is responsible for project management, costs increased primarily for roof work, drywall construction, thermal insulation, tiling and carpentry work. In addition, measures were necessary that were not originally planned and caused additional costs. For example, the new replacement building involved more extensive interventions in the existing building and the soil, the disposal of larger quantities of contaminated excavated material and unexpected finds in the subsoil beneath the demolished buildings. The structural connections in the area of the roof, the foundations and the façade to the atrium building also required rescheduling and adjustments following the demolition of the existing buildings. Additional expenditure was also required for the building services. Among other things, this affected the decentralized ventilation units as well as difficulties with the connection to the specialist classroom building and the new central heating system.
Since December 2021, work has been taking place in several construction phases at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule while the school continues to operate. The new replacement building and the central heating system are now in operation. The atrium building is currently being renovated and is expected to be ready for pupils to use again this year. This will be followed by the refurbishment of the specialist classroom building. Full completion of all construction measures is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Part of the financing for the project is being provided by GEO Grüner Eigenbetrieb Offenbach via a green promissory note loan. The city bundles central infrastructure projects in the areas of education and flood protection in the GEO, which demonstrably make a positive contribution to the environment, climate and society and therefore qualify for this sustainable form of financing. Around 70 percent of the work on the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule meets the criteria for the green Schuldschein. This includes the completed extension and the ongoing renovation work on the atrium building.
City invests in education
The city of Offenbach am Main has been continuously investing in modern school and daycare buildings since 2007. This is due to rising pupil numbers and the goal of creating optimal learning conditions for future generations. With pro rata support from the federal and state governments, over 404 million euros have already been invested in the construction and renovation of schools and daycare centers since 2007. Today, around 50 percent of the approximately 18,700 pupils learn in completely new or fully renovated school buildings. A further 20 percent attend partially renovated facilities, while 15 percent attend schools that are currently being renovated or extended. Of a total of 2,472 daycare children in municipal facilities, 80 percent attend new or completely renovated daycare centers. Construction projects worth around 321 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 commissions 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.