New Lauterborn Children's, Youth, and Family Center Inaugurated
23.06.2026
The city of Offenbach has built a new Lauterborn Children’s, Youth, and Family Center (JUZ) and expanded it both structurally and conceptually. Located on Johann-Strauß-Weg, the 2,000-square-meter facility now offers programs not only for young people, as before, but also for children and families. The center features an activity room, a space for creative pursuits, and a bicycle repair shop. Outdoor sports areas are available, and a playground will soon be added. Mayor and Youth Affairs Commissioner Sabine Groß and Construction and Education Commissioner Paul-Gerhard Weiß officially inaugurated the new building last Friday.
“With this new building, we have not only created more space but also implemented a new concept. Lauterborn is now home not just to a youth center, but to a place for families where young people and families can spend their free time enjoying a wide range of activities. The connection to the daycare center and elementary school, along with the cooperation with support services, creates a place that accompanies and strengthens families in their everyday lives. It’s a place I would love to see in other neighborhoods as well,” said Mayor Sabine Groß.
With a colorful program of games, sports, and hands-on activities, visitors were able to get to know the new center. Guided tours of the building and creative activities showcased the center’s diverse offerings.
In addition to the numerous programs for children and teens in the neighborhood, the focus will shift even more toward the whole family in the future. The range of offerings has already been expanded to include a women’s group and a bike repair shop. As part of the ECHO (Parental Opportunities in Offenbach) project, group programs for parental support were developed in the Nordend neighborhood. With funding from the Action Plan Against Child Poverty, these programs will soon be offered at the Lauterborn Family Center as well.
In addition, the new counseling service “Queer in Offenbach” from pro familia is about to launch. Furthermore, the Youth Welfare Office is currently working on a call for proposals for a local toddler playgroup.
“The new building has created a modern and sustainable facility that meets the requirements of contemporary child, youth, and family services. It is an important building block for the social infrastructure in Lauterborn. Thanks to its accessible and modern design, the building will meet the long-term needs of the local community and further enhance the neighborhood,” adds Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of the Department of Construction and Education.
Background
The center is designed for children and adolescents ages six to eighteen, as well as young adults and parents. The center has a girls’ room dedicated to working with girls and women.
The Children’s, Youth, and Family Center is a new space for free play, counseling on current issues affecting young people, and integration. The building also provides space for full-day care for 100 elementary school children.
According to current figures, the city of Offenbach has invested a total of approximately 10.7 million euros. Of this amount, the federal government and the state of Hesse provided 4.5 million euros in funding. The funding is part of the “Investment Pact for Social Integration in Neighborhoods” program. Previously, the youth center could not be used due to structural defects in the building.
Special attention was paid to sustainability during the building’s construction. Thanks to LED lighting, a green roof, and inner courtyards, the youth center saves 45 percent of the energy consumed by a comparable new building. In addition, the building is heated via the district heating network operated by Energieversorgung Offenbach AG.
Access to the building is barrier-free.
Further information
City invests in education
Since 2007, the city of Offenbach am Main has been continuously investing in modern school and daycare facilities. This is due to rising student enrollment and the goal of creating optimal learning conditions for future generations. With partial funding from the federal and state governments, over 675 million euros have been allocated for new construction and renovation since 2007. Today, more than 60 percent of the approximately 18,800 students attend school in brand-new or fully renovated school buildings. Another 15 percent attend partially renovated facilities, while 5 percent attend schools that are currently being remodeled or expanded. Of a total of about 2,300 daycare children under the age of 6 in municipal facilities, around 80 percent attend new or fully renovated daycare centers.
The Building Construction Management division of the Office for Planning and Construction is responsible for the projects as the owner’s representative and project owner. It oversees the planning and development of the projects. The city administration commissioned OPG Offenbacher Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Offenbach, to manage all renovation and new construction projects. On behalf of the city, OPG implements many urban development projects. In addition to managing the construction and renovation of schools and daycare centers, these include the development and marketing of the harbor area and the Innovation Campus.