bulwiengesa has published the short study "More Pace in School Construction – Guidance for Future-proof Investment Decisions". This publication represents the first specialist work within the framework of the 'Education Properties Initiative'. It analyses approaches to implement municipal school construction projects more efficiently, economically, and sustainably. The focus is on evaluating different implementation models and determining the optimal solution based on specific project and framework conditions.
Sven Carstensen, Managing Director of bulwiengesa and co-author of the study, emphasises that the economic viability and long-term sustainability of a school construction project do not depend solely on construction costs. A well-founded decision for an implementation model requires considering the entire lifecycle, which includes investment, operation, maintenance, and future adaptations. This holistic perspective creates a reliable basis.
The investment requirement in the area of municipal school construction remains consistently high. At the same time, the demands on educational infrastructures are increasing due to the introduction of all-day schooling, inclusion, digitalisation, and sustainability standards. Many municipalities face not only financial constraints but also personnel and organisational bottlenecks. The lack of rapid implementation capabilities in municipal school construction is therefore not primarily a question of financing, but increasingly also a capacity issue affecting planning, administrative, and realisation resources.
In addition to traditional municipal self-development, the study also examines models that involve private investors or lease constructions, as well as various forms of partnership-based implementation. It concludes that no single model is generally superior. Crucial for choosing the appropriate model are the specific project goals, available resources, and the requirements for risk management, control, and flexibility. An exclusive consideration of construction costs is insufficient for a reliable comparison.
For a valid evaluation, all phases throughout the entire lifecycle of a school building must be considered. This includes costs for land acquisition, planning, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and later adaptations. The bulwiengesa study summarises the essential criteria in a decision matrix, which offers municipalities structured guidance for the project-specific selection of the appropriate implementation model. This enables well-founded decision-making that goes beyond short-term cost considerations and adopts a long-term perspective.
