The ecoPARK Gelsenkirchen is under construction. Last Friday, the installation of the first concrete pillars was celebrated, with completion planned for late summer. The particularly sustainable business and multi-user commercial park is being built on part of the former Schalke club grounds and comprises a divisible new hall building including office space with a total gross floor area of around 15,800 square meters. The project is being realized as part of a joint venture between ecoPARKS GmbH and AEW.
The groundwork and drainage of the site have already been completed, and a noise barrier has been installed. The fact that the first concrete supports for the project have now been put in place was celebrated together. "The revitalization of this former blast furnace site into the modern Schalker Verein commercial and industrial area has been a great success so far," said ecoPARKS Managing Director Wilm Schwarzpaul at the support ceremony, looking at the overall development of the area. "It is a great concern and a great pleasure for us to now develop a modern commercial and multi-user park that is exemplary in terms of sustainability on one of the last remaining sites."
The new building, constructed using a hybrid timber design, is being built on a site in the heart of the Ruhr region, just 800 meters from Gelsenkirchen's main train station. Once operational, it will be able to operate entirely without fossil fuels. To this end, a photovoltaic system will be installed across the entire roof, producing electricity for the building's own use and for feeding into the local grid. Heat pumps are planned for heating and cooling. The roof structures will be built using timber construction methods. The project will be designed in accordance with the BEG-40 standard and DGNB platinum certification is being sought. The partners in the construction project are the Hagedorn Group for civil engineering and Goldbeck as the general contractor for building construction.
"Marketing is underway and will be intensified once again with the start of building construction," said Wilm Schwarzpaul. The building shell will be completed as early as next spring, and occupancy will be possible from mid-2025. The flexible layout of the space allows for high-quality units with intelligent and sustainable building technology for up to four different users. In addition, the facility will have 14 loading ramps, an LED lighting system, and charging stations for cars and bicycles.
