Terra Nova Campus can only be occupied at a later date
Defective screed must be replaced - Most of the work completed during the month - Joint decision by school and administration on new date in the winter holidays - Building management informs about completed construction work
The new building for the special needs education centre on Heinrich-Schütz-Straße, the Terra Nova Campus, cannot be occupied until later than planned. The administration informed the Planning, Building and Environment Committee of this today. The reason for this is construction defects identified by the project management, which cannot be rectified by the originally announced relocation date. The school management, the boarding school and the City of Chemnitz offices involved have therefore agreed that the pupils will probably move in during the winter holidays.
At the end of April, the site management discovered serious defects in the screed work in the school building. After analysing the laboratory tests of material samples, two large corridor areas had to be demolished and rebuilt. This defect was reported to the contractor and immediate remedial action was demanded. After the company initially doubted the defect, the defect has now been recognised and the demolition and reinstallation of the screed has been announced.
The completion of the areas not affected - home, all-day care and sports hall - will take place on schedule during the summer holidays, while the work in the home will be completed by 15 June. The roof areas and outdoor facilities will then also be ready for use in this area. However, the defects that have now been identified in the school building make it impossible to use this part of the building. The construction management estimates that the work will not be fully completed until August. This means that there will not be sufficient time for acceptance tests, defect rectification and commissioning with test operation before the end of the summer holidays at the end of August.
The administration informed the school management of the new status. The alternative of possibly putting the building into operation and use in stages (home from the summer and school from the autumn holidays) was discussed with the school, but ultimately rejected. The relocation and associated holiday planning for parents and staff, which had to be organised well in advance, as well as the extensive coordination with the district authorities, Lebenshilfe, the food provider, the therapy department and the numerous different transport companies, for example, required a longer lead time.
In the coming days, the school management and the administrative offices involved will finalise when a complete relocation is possible. One of the options is a relocation during the winter holidays.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place on 24 August 2012 and the foundation stone was laid on 24 June 2013. Completion was initially planned for the end of 2014, but had to be postponed due to the termination and insolvency of construction companies, delays in structural work and damage caused by heavy rainfall during the 2013 floods.
The new construction of the Terra Nova Campus on the Heinrich-Schütz-Straße site on Sonnenberg is the largest school building project of the city administration in Chemnitz and, in addition to the school, includes a two-court sports hall with outdoor facilities, a residential home, all-day care for children and young people with physical and multiple disabilities as well as therapy rooms with a therapy pool and gymnastics room. A total of 34.4 million euros will be invested in the extensive building project. The Free State is subsidising the construction with a total of 14.8 million euros. The city of Chemnitz itself is investing 17.8 million euros.
Information on the school building programme
Furthermore, the main construction work at the following schools was completed in May 2015:
Oberschule Josephinenschule: In addition to the second escape route, the school now has new fire protection measures and a media supply and disposal system.
Gebrüder-Grimm-Grundschule: A second escape route was created in the primary school and the façade was renovated.
Vocational School Centre for Business II: A second escape route was also installed in the vocational school centre. The fire protection system was also brought up to date.
Reichenbrand primary and secondary school: The interior of both schools was partially refurbished. In addition, the school building has a new roof and a new façade.
Schönau primary and secondary school: In Schönau, the school area was expanded with a new extension.
Georg Weerth Primary School: Both the sanitary facilities and the heating system were renovated at this primary school. The roof and façade were also renovated.
Baumgartenschule Grüna: The primary school also has new sanitary facilities. Both the façade and the interior fittings were renovated.
Altendorf primary and secondary school: Construction work was also completed in Altendorf in May. The interior was refurbished and the building services renewed.
J.-Heinrich-Pestalozzi learning supportcentre: The building at the learning support centre was drained and the façade and roof were renovated.
Einsiedel primary school: In Einsiedel, a new second escape route was created and the façade was renovated.
Heinrich Heine Primary School: The construction work at Heinrich Heine Primary School will be completed in the course of June. The school will have a new façade and a lift for the disabled. The sports hall is still being completely renovated.