Hospital Construction Completed in Solingen
Solingen, Germany - Construction has commenced on a new sustainable kindergarten in the city, marking a significant step towards addressing the growing demand for early childhood education facilities. The project is a joint venture between the Solingen Urban Development Company (SEG) and the city of Solingen.
Saint-Gobain Brüggemann Holzbau GmbH, a company specializing in sustainable wooden construction, has been commissioned for the project. The company will construct a modern, barrier-free building that meets high ecological standards, with an investment sum of around five million euros.
The building shell is scheduled to be completed in February, allowing for quick interior fit-out and protection from weather conditions. The SEG is responsible for the construction of the facility, while the city will rent and operate the kindergarten.
Road construction was necessary due to suboptimal access, indicating an intensive preparation phase. This new kindergarten will be the second kindergarten in Solingen built by the SEG, following the one on Schwanenstraße in Ohligs.
The Mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, stated that the city is working at full speed to improve the situation, with a demand for around 900 additional kindergarten places still missing in Solingen. The new kindergarten will have four groups for children aged two to school entry.
The new building, located on Herbergerstraße, is expected to be completed using the innovative "elemented construction method". Sustainable wooden construction and solar panels on the roof, as well as a green roof, will contribute to the energy efficiency of the new building. The construction will also incorporate heat pumps and photovoltaic systems to further reduce its environmental impact.
The new kindergarten will offer an innovative and forward-looking care facility, complementing the upcoming large daycare center for children under three years old at the clinic. Kindergarten director Sandra Schröder will start her work on January 1, 2023.
Germany, including regions like Solingen, is expected to implement a new kindergarten law in 2026 which might impact preschool education and capacity. This suggests reforms are planned that could address availability or quality issues. More broadly, efforts to solve child care shortages focus on acknowledging the seriousness of the problem, making child care affordable through subsidies, and ensuring sufficient places meet demand.
Examples of local initiatives include investments in facilities like kindergartens. For instance, a new greenhouse for Velbert kindergarten children was funded as a sustainability award prize, showing community support for such facilities nearby. Without direct figures or reports, it is likely Solingen faces challenges common in German cities, such as insufficient kindergarten places relative to demand, and is presumably engaged in or planning infrastructure improvements and adapting to new legislation aimed at expanding kindergarten capacity and quality.
Building Commissioner Andreas Budde expressed pleasure at starting the project, marking a positive step towards addressing the city's growing need for high-quality, sustainable early childhood education facilities. The new kindergarten on Herbergerstraße is set to welcome its first pioneer groups in March 2025.
- The sustainable kindergarten project in Solingen, with its focus on health-and-wellness and sustainable living, aligns with the city's growing emphasis on education-and-self-development, particularly in the realm of early childhood education.
- The upcoming sustainable kindergarten, equipped with solar panels, green roofs, heat pumps, and photovoltaic systems, serves as a prime example of how home-and-garden practices can be integrated into educational institutions to promote a lifestyle that values energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
- As Germany prepares for the anticipated implementation of a new kindergarten law in 2026, the construction of this sustainable kindergarten in Solingen is a tangible step towards improving the availability and quality of preschool education, addressing a growing need across many German cities.
