City council approves extension to Johannes Kepler Grammar School
At its meeting today, the Chemnitz City Council decided to build a new extension to the Johannes Kepler Grammar School. The aim is to ensure that the school can accommodate four classes.
In addition to the extension, the rooms in the existing building will also be rearranged. Parts of the outdoor facilities will also be redesigned. The costs are expected to total 6.45 million euros.
The preparatory construction measures, such as site clearance, earthworks with explosive ordnance investigation and, if necessary, clearance, are planned for November 2022. The shell construction will begin in March 2023, with work in the existing building in the area of the extension starting in November 2023. The new extension is scheduled to be put into operation at the start of the school year 24/25 in August 2024.
Further conversion work in the existing building (former dining rooms) can only take place from August 2024 after the extension building is put into use, meaning that the entire project can be completed in April 2025.
The new three-storey building with a full basement will be connected to the northern gable of the building using solid construction. In terms of design, the modern extension stands out clearly from the listed existing building and forms a new end along Humboldtplatz. It connects to the centre corridor axis of the existing building on each floor. The new extension was planned as an Efficiency House 40 with a mechanical ventilation system. Photovoltaic modules on the flat roof will supply the school building with renewable electricity in future.
The new building will house six specialised classrooms (three physics, three chemistry) and preparation rooms. In addition, the catering kitchen (cook and freeze) and the school canteen for approx. 190 students will be relocated there in three passages.
The cafeteria will have a seating option that can also be used for parents' evenings or smaller events. The canteen and the specialised classrooms will be ventilated with a shared system. A separate supply and exhaust air system will be installed for the kitchen area.
A terrace adjoins the dining hall to the existing schoolyard to the east. The terrace is barrier-free accessible from the outside. The outdoor area will have a new basketball court. The existing shot put facility in the sports area will be redesigned.
The rooms in the existing building will only be restructured to a limited extent. The existing school canteen will be replaced by the music department and the school club. On the first and first floors, the preparation rooms will be converted into a corridor. The existing subject rooms will be reorganised and refurnished. Some of them will be converted into classrooms.
The entire lighting will be fitted with LED lights. The building alarm system will be extended so that the new building also has an alarm system for threatening and dangerous situations.
The main entrance on the south side of the existing building will remain the main entrance to the school.
All other side entrances to the existing building and the existing lift will also be retained. The fire brigade access is still located on Fürstenstraße.
Car parking spaces (also barrier-free) and bicycle parking spaces are still located on Fürstenstraße and Humboldtplatz. However, the bicycle parking spaces will be rearranged.