A pilot project with exemplary character: for the first time, a daycare center will be built entirely in solid timber construction and certified as a sustainable building. With the Breitbenden daycare center, the city of Aachen is breaking new ground in terms of resource-conserving construction and climate friendliness. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in summer 2024 and the topping-out ceremony has already been celebrated after a short construction period of just a few weeks.

The daycare center stands, as the topping-out slogan says, "firmly in bars and posts", with load-bearing walls and ceilings made of - mainly - unglued solid wood elements. "We are showing here how the building of the future works, climate-neutral, future-proof and also exemplary for private construction projects. Buildings full of energy and a great atmosphere that feel good at the end of the day," said Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen at the topping-out ceremony in Eilendorf. The Lord Mayor thanked everyone involved in the project for their excellent cooperation.

Gabriele Hajok, Head of Building Construction Technical Facility Management, also emphasizes the joint efforts in this pilot project: "Those involved in the construction are pioneers and are breaking new ground in future construction. Special thanks go to the craftsmen for their outstanding work."

The new building, which is expected to cost almost 11.4 million euros, is scheduled for completion in 2026. For the Breitbenden daycare center, a_CO2 and eco-balance and a life cycle cost calculation will be carried out for the first time for a municipal building, meaning that the building will be constructed and operated in an almost climate-neutral manner.

Hilde Scheidt, Chairwoman of the Children and Youth Committee, and District Mayor Elke Eschweiler were also delighted at the topping-out ceremony about the rapid construction of the urgently needed daycare center, the special construction method and the good cooperation between politicians, city administration, planners and the contractors. The German Red Cross (DRK) will operate the KiTa in the Aachen-Eilendorf district after completion, which will accommodate three U3 and two Ü3 groups (80 places in total) on a floor space of around 1180 square meters.

Back in April, the city of Aachen had reason to celebrate: the Breitbenden daycare center was one of seven projects to receive the "Energy-efficient non-residential buildings in NRW" award from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the state of NRW and was recognized as an exemplary model. A second municipal project, the already completed Stettiner Strasse day care center, was also honored. Jens Hauschild, Commercial Director of the municipal building management, was able to present the certificate to Christoph Salentin from the planning office "pbs architekten" as a project participant at the topping-out ceremony together with the Lord Mayor.