It has been known for more than six years that the Munich Land State Vocational School in Riem needs to be expanded and updated. The plans are now becoming more concrete, and a date for the reopening of the educational institution was recently approved by the district committee for buildings and schools: the expanded vocational school is to be put into operation at the start of the 2026/27 school year. “There is an urgent need for modernization at the school,” says district administrator Christoph Göbel (CSU) on SZ demand.
And a significant extension of the house is also necessary, as Göbel explains: On the one hand, this has to do with the fact that in recent years the number of students in the areas of homework and agriculture has not only stabilized, but even moved up again. On the other hand, more space is simply needed because the training of specialists in child day care is being set up as a new branch of the vocational school. New apartments are created for the trainees, a simple gymnasium plus gymnastics and weight room and a machine hall.
There is enough space for the expansion, since the district bought the adjacent property for 12.5 million euros a few years ago, as Göbel says. In addition to these expenses, there are the targeted costs for expansion and renovation, which have almost doubled since the first preliminary planning in 2018: According to a current rough estimate, the entire project will cost 73.4 million euros, but the district office is counting on this based on recent experience an annual increase of about eight percent per year, which would mean 90.9 million by 2025. In addition, a risk reserve of 15 percent is planned – makes 104.6 million euros.
District Administrator Christoph Göbel emphasizes the importance of investing in education.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
For District Administrator Göbel, these dimensions are not surprising: “You have to reckon with that today, but due to rising interest rates it cannot be ruled out that construction costs will fall again in the next few years.” In any case, a 40 to 50 percent price increase within a few years is currently a completely normal process, according to Göbel: “The 34 million euros that we planned for the vocational school in 2018 are less than the currently estimated 74 million.” In general, he is still fully behind the course to bring the educational institutions in the district into shape: “We definitely want to use the leeway we have now. That will pay off later.”
Domestic services are becoming more important
The other political district representatives are unreservedly following the course of the district administrator, and the committee approved the preliminary planning without dissenting votes. “Our investments in high schools are also upwards of 100 million,” says SPD parliamentary group leader Florian Schardt of the SZ. “It is absolutely right to do something for vocational school students, because trades and services also deserve respect. We need well-trained people everywhere,” the social democrat continued. And the district administrator adds that the job description has changed significantly in recent times, especially in the field of housekeeping: “In an aging society, housekeeping services also play a greater role for care at home.”
Florian Schardt emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
In any case, savings should not be made at the wrong end: A hybrid wood construction is planned for the extension building, which according to Göbel is currently driving up the price by five to six million compared to a reinforced concrete building, but which is also advantageous in terms of energy and the realization of the building accelerated. On the other hand, there is no underground car park for the school, the required 60 parking spaces will be built above ground and designed with as little sealing as possible. They are to be used alternately with the neighboring Riem horse racing club. In return, the creation of living space for trainee teachers, young teachers and adult trainees remains part of the project – despite the skepticism of the planners due to the difficult transport access and the proximity of the apartments to the school. Göbel argues that given the high rents, the possibility of housing makes the vocational school more attractive to teachers and students from outside the region.
In order not to reach the load limit again in a few years, the basement of the building is to be expanded in such a way that another six to seven classrooms and additional specialist rooms can easily be created there. “The advantage is that these premises are underground and are therefore not counted towards the floor area,” says Göbel.