Securing skilled labour is a significant challenge nationwide, particularly in the Cologne region, as there is a demand for over 110,000 skilled workers in the core professions of the metal and electrical industries. In response to this situation and to ensure the qualification of young professionals, a new building for the existing vocational college for metal construction and building services engineering will be erected in Cologne-Porz, on Kaiserstraße.
Hemsö GmbH, an investor and owner specialising in social properties, is realising this project on behalf of the City of Cologne. An educational site will be created on a plot of approximately 25,000 square metres, designed to accommodate around 1,300 students. The investment sum for modern workshops, a sports hall, and outdoor facilities totals approximately 130 million EUR.
The existing vocational college is in need of renovation and can only partially meet the current requirements for vocational education, which are being fundamentally redefined by digitalisation, the energy transition, and new manufacturing technologies. The new building, on a previously disused commercial area, is intended to address these changing requirements through modern learning spaces and sustainable construction. Energy-efficient technologies and a planned photovoltaic system are foreseen to reduce the building's energy consumption and conserve resources.
Cooperation and Project Structure
With this construction project, Hemsö is expanding its portfolio of educational properties in Germany. Jens Nagel, Managing Director of Hemsö GmbH, highlights that in view of increasing demands on schools and limited public resources, long-term models for the development of educational properties are gaining in importance. These models offer planning certainty for municipalities and contribute to the swifter realisation of necessary educational infrastructure. The new vocational college will be operated by Hemsö under a 25-year lease agreement.
The realisation of the new building is the result of a collaboration between WWB Weser-Wohnbau Gruppe, Goldbeck West GmbH, Drees & Sommer, and Hemsö. WWB initiated the project and secured the site. Goldbeck is responsible for planning and turnkey construction. Handover to the City of Cologne is scheduled for the academic year 2031/2032.
- —Project initiation and site: WWB Weser-Wohnbau Gruppe
- —Planning and turnkey construction: Goldbeck West GmbH
- —Project management: Drees & Sommer SE (on behalf of Hemsö)
- —Investor, owner and long-term holder: Hemsö GmbH
Significance and Management of Project Complexity
Project management for Hemsö is undertaken by Drees & Sommer SE, a consultancy specialising in construction, real estate, and infrastructure, which ensures the deadlines, costs, and quality requirements of the construction project. Anja Könings, Team Leader at Drees & Sommer, notes that direct mandates from the City of Cologne have already provided the company with extensive knowledge of the city's needs and processes. The specific constellation of stakeholders requires a high degree of coordination effort and close consultation to achieve the common goal of a strong regional educational offering.
The vocational college in Cologne-Porz is part of a comprehensive renewal of Cologne's educational infrastructure. Ms Könings has been involved in the planning and implementation of a total of 22 school construction projects in Cologne since 2018, with ten further schools to be built under her direct involvement by 2031. She emphasises that educational properties represent particularly demanding construction projects, as the buildings must be tailored to the needs of users who are in a formative phase of their lives.
Metal construction and building services engineering are among the essential training areas in the infrastructure sector. In view of the shortage of skilled labour and the increasing demand in housing construction, building renovation, and modern energy supply, training is a central component for securing and modernising Germany. Trained specialists in building services engineering install heat pumps, heating systems, or energy-efficient ventilation and air conditioning systems. In metal construction and structural mechanics, skilled workers are responsible for the construction and maintenance of machinery. The new building in Cologne-Porz thus symbolises the successful development of modern educational infrastructure through the cooperation of public authorities, long-term investors, and experienced project partners.
