The Unterföhringer call the old building of the primary school from 1964 the “blue box”. And that shouldn’t change even after the renovation of the building. Blue remains the color of choice when it comes to the building committee. In its most recent meeting, the committee unanimously passed a corresponding recommendation for the municipal council. The large mosaic above the entrance area should also be preserved, the component below will be insulated as well as the entire building and the yellow extension from 1996. This will also be extensively renovated.
Alex Sonnleiter from the architecture firm SSP Waldkirchen had previously presented the committee with various options for color design and preservation of the mosaic. The palette ranged from a combination of blue, yellow and beige tones to gray. The aim is to create an interplay between the three components. But the people of Unterföhring are not really happy with the building from 2015, the facade of which was designed in a dreary gray. Mayor Andreas Kemmelmeyer (party-free electorate, PWU) also pleaded for blue and won approval from the committee. The local politicians were also unanimous about the mosaic: It must be removed and prepared.
It has been clear since 2020 that the “blue box” and its yellow annex have to be renovated. The fire protection and energy concept of the building need to be upgraded, and the educational classroom concept no longer meets current requirements and is being redesigned. The aim is to achieve the standard of the elementary school on the new campus on Mitterfeldallee also at the Bahnhofstrasse location.
During the summer holidays, the local council should think about savings – not an easy undertaking
But the shock was great when the Unterföhringen council found out the expected costs for the renovation at the beginning of July: Instead of a good six million euros plus ancillary costs, as initially estimated, the project is now expected to cost more than 24 million euros. The groups asked for time to think about it, they wanted to think about possible savings during the summer vacation. But these are not so easy to accomplish. Too much has to be done in the parts of the building.
Eligible funding programs hardly make things any better. The administration has now submitted a list to the building committee, they all have one thing in common: Ultimately, Unterföhring has to spend more money in order to benefit from the money. The budget for thermal insulation has increased by almost 110,000 euros and for window elements by 140,000 euros; There could be more money from the digital pact for LED technology for lighting and for energy and light management. After deducting all federal and state subsidies, this ultimately amounts to additional expenditure of 24,000 euros that has to be borne by the municipality alone. On the other hand, the municipality will also get a converted elementary school with a higher standard.
The renovation of the primary school is expected to begin at the end of the second square in 2022, after the necessary demolition work has been completed. The resumption of school operations on Bahnhofstrasse is planned for September 2024, according to the town hall.