Ground-breaking ceremony for new extension to Chemnitz music school completed
2.3 million euros to be invested - completion planned for summer 2014
On Monday, 10 June, the Mayor of Chemnitz, Barbara Ludwig, and the Director of the Chemnitz Music School, Nancy Gibson, performed the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the new extension to the municipal music school. The school at Gerichtsstraße 1 has reached the limits of its capacity due to a steady increase in the number of pupils, which is why the city council decided to extend the building.
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "Especially after the successful German Music Festival, this ground-breaking ceremony is the right step. The fact that the music school is reaching the limits of its capacity is testament to the outstanding work of its staff and the high quality of its teaching. The extension will give more children and young people the opportunity to take advantage of the wide range of programmes offered by the municipal music school. This will also give the music school more scope to make its considerable contribution to the child- and family-friendly city of Chemnitz."
The new extension is planned as a two-storey building with a full basement. It will comprise two parts, a simple cube and another cube embedded in it as a concert hall. The building will have a prestigious entrance area. The approx. 250 m² concert hall will be adjoined by various adjoining rooms and a band rehearsal room. The new building will also have a total of six classrooms and offices. In total, the gross floor area of the school will be extended by approx. 825 m². Various paths and passageways will connect the existing main building with the new building. The extension will take into account the listed status of the existing building. Barrier-free access will be provided for the various parts of the building.
The construction project will cost a total of €2.34 million. The City of Chemnitz is contributing € 1.74 million of this amount.
Completion of the new extension is planned for July 2014.
The Chemnitz Municipal Music School has reached the limits of its capacity with just under 2,100 pupils today. The number of pupils has doubled since 2003.
The new extension is part of a concept for the further development of the Chemnitz Music School, which will be discussed by the city council in mid-June. In addition to the construction project, the concept also includes statements on planned pupil numbers and staff development. Around 2,500 pupils are expected by 2018. Furthermore, the ratio of freelance and permanent teachers is to be adjusted in favour of the latter in order to provide greater stability and continuity in educational support.
The ground-breaking ceremony was originally due to take place on 3 June, but was postponed due to the flood alert in Chemnitz.