Press release
Final Plenary Session on the Participation Process for the Weidenhof Primary School Campus Development – Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz
The final plenary session on the 22nd of June 2023 in the ballroom of the Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz marked the first milestone in the development of the campus of the Weidenhof Primary School – Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz. Lord Mayor Mike Schubert personally informed himself about the vision for future collaboration at the site and discussed the next steps with those involved.
The project was carried out by Kommunale Immobilien Service Potsdam (KIS), a municipal enterprise of the state capital of Potsdam, in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam (FHP). The extensive coordination and step-by-step development of the participation process in several workshops was in the hands of the architectural firm Die Baupiloten.
The aim of the project was to develop a vision for the development of the Schlaatz site together with the current users and other stakeholders, with a focus on social integration in the neighbourhood. The participation process is an important step in the preparation of the construction project for the planned renovation and expansion of the Weidenhof primary school, the after-school care centre and the community centre at Schlaatz.
The participation process
All local stakeholders, such as the school community (teachers, parents' representatives, school social workers and pupils), the after-school care centre, the Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz community centre, the Alpha youth club and the media workshop, were actively involved in the participation process. The project was launched in January with a "vision workshop", which was followed by subsequent workshops. The focus was on expanding educational, leisure and childcare services for children and families in Schlaatz and making them easily accessible. Particular attention was paid to incorporating the wishes and ideas of the children. Separate workshops were held with them, in which ideas for the primary school, the after-school care centre and the neighbourhood house were developed using various games.
Final plenary session
At the end of the first project milestone for the campus development, the architectural firm Die Baupiloten, which accompanied the process, presented the extensive results . During a so-called "gallery walk", the plenary participants exchanged views on the process and their wishes for the further procedure. In the morning, the pupils went on a dream safari to discover the district house.
Further steps
In the next step, the KIS will begin the realisation competition to award the planning services. The users of the Weidenhof-Grundschule – Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz campus will continue to be regularly involved in the entire planning process. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026. In parallel to the construction issues, the cooperation and offers of the local stakeholders will be jointly developed and coordinated.
Implementation
The project was realised by the Municipal Real Estate Service Potsdam (KIS), a municipal enterprise of the state capital of Potsdam, in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam (FHP), Prof. Dr. Gerlind Große, Research Professor for Early Childhood Studies in collaboration with the Central Research and Transfer Service (ZEFT) of the FHP. The coordination and development of the participation process was carried out by the architecture firm Die Baupiloten.
The final report is available on the Die Baupiloten website until the 31st of July 2023.
Contact
University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Prof. Dr. Gerlind Große
Research Professor for Early Childhood Education Research
gerlind.grosse@fh-potsdam.de
Kommunaler Immobilien Service Potsdam
Jeannette Hanko
Sustainability consultancy
Kommunaler Immobilien Service (KIS)
Eigenbetrieb der Landeshauptstadt Potsdam
jeannette.hanko@rathaus.potsdam.de