The Schuster building from the 1960s has three storeys and is named after the architect Franz Schuster, who developed this type of building. The city of Offenbach am Main is responding to rising pupil numbers by expanding and renovating the integrated comprehensive school (IGS) at a cost of 29.5 million euros.
The city council, represented by the building construction management department of the Office for Urban Planning, Transport and Construction Management, has commissioned the public utility company OPG Offenbacher Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH with the implementation. As things stand at present, the entire construction project should be completed by the end of 2024.
Two buildings have to make way for replacement construction
New supply lines have already been laid and a new above-ground heating system with wood pellet firing has been installed. Now two buildings on the school grounds on the corner of Erich-Ollenhauer-Straße and Hamburger Straße have to make way for a larger replacement building.
The new two-storey classroom building is to be connected to the school's main building, the atrium building. "The Schuster building would no longer be economically viable to renovate - which is why it will be demolished along with the basement and the two-storey connecting building to the main building," explains Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of Urban Planning and Education.
Demolition work takes place while the school is open
Unfortunately, it was not possible to carry out this work during the vacation period due to the construction schedule, the city council regrets. The demolition therefore had to take place while the school was still open. Weiß asks both the pupils and staff as well as the neighbors for their understanding that the demolition work may cause noise, dust and vibrations.
The mechanical dismantling of the buildings is expected to begin in the second half of November. Demolition and removal of the rubble will take four to six weeks, depending on progress. Work may be carried out between 7 am and 8 pm.
OPG has contractually obliged the demolition company to demolish the buildings with as little vibration and dust as possible and to reduce the disruption to the school community and local residents to an unavoidable minimum. During construction, the Stadtwerke's real estate company will have noise and vibration measurements carried out throughout and will be available to both the school and local residents as a direct point of contact should the nuisance exceed an acceptable level.
Replacement building to be completed in the second quarter of 2023
Both buildings have already been gutted. Protective measures are being taken on the existing buildings to be retained and a temporary entrance is being created, as the replacement extension will connect directly to the main building, but the atrium building will remain in operation.
As soon as the construction site is clear, the earthworks and then the shell construction work can begin. The replacement building is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2023. In the meantime, some teaching will take place in a three-storey modular interim facility with 24 classrooms.
November 15, 2021