German schools show a significant need for refurbishment. The KfW Municipal Panel 2026 confirms that every second municipality plans to use funds from the special assets for schools and roads this year. Approximately 24 per cent of these funds are earmarked for school infrastructure. Melanie Waldmann, managing director and civil engineer at mayer bährle GmbH, points out that municipalities are thus investing substantial sums in modernising educational facilities, many of which date from the 1950s to the 1970s. These buildings often no longer meet current requirements for energy efficiency, fire protection, accessibility, digitalisation and modern learning concepts.
The necessity of refurbishments, conversions or new builds conflicts with the premise of avoiding teaching disruptions while adhering to cost and time schedules. A school refurbishment should therefore be regarded as a complex infrastructure project with numerous interfaces. In addition to architecture and construction, aspects such as relocations, interim solutions, communication and logistics must be planned early and managed professionally.
Interim Solutions and Subsequent Use
Extensive refurbishments often require a partial or complete relocation of school operations. Mobile container units have established themselves as a practical interim solution in this regard. The use of such units goes beyond simply providing temporary classrooms. It requires consideration of technical access (electricity, water, IT), fire safety and security concepts, accessibility, and the integration of administrative, staff and classrooms. Sanitary facilities, as well as kitchens and break rooms in many cases, must also be integrated, as full-day care is already mandatory in various federal states.
After the completion of construction work, the return relocation takes place, which also involves considerable organisational effort. In addition, the used container units must be dismantled, relocated or sold promptly. Ms Waldmann emphasises that an early strategy for the subsequent use or recovery of these containers can save significant costs. Dismantling, transport, condition assessments and, if necessary, tendering or marketing processes must be coordinated.
The Role of Project Management
The complexity of these tasks explains why an increasing proportion of municipalities are opting to collaborate with specialised project management offices. These take on the overarching control of all project phases and ensure that construction, school operations and administration are stringently coordinated. Project managers develop schedules, handle contract awards including contract negotiation and monitoring, and budget management. They coordinate all project stakeholders – this includes planners, construction companies and tradespeople. Furthermore, they are responsible for the creation and management of relevant reports and documents and communicate with other stakeholders such as heritage authorities or city and municipal councils. Centralised control reduces interfaces, accelerates decision-making processes and enables early risk detection, thereby alleviating the burden on administrations, which are often limited in personnel.
