Construction of ecoPARK Gelsenkirchen is underway. On a section of the former Schalke club grounds, ecoPARKS GmbH is building a particularly sustainable business and multi-user commercial park, whose divisible new hall, including office space, will offer around 16,200 square meters of gross floor space. The project is being carried out in a joint venture with AEW, one of the world's leading real estate investment and asset managers. Completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
AEW has acquired the approximately 27,000 m² site, including project development, from ecoPARKS. "In our strong partnership with AEW, we are speculatively building ecoPARK Gelsenkirchen in order to be able to provide space for the regional economy in the short term," says Wilm Schwarzpaul, managing partner of ecoPARKS GmbH, adding: "Right from the start, both in the initiation and establishment of the partnership, it became clear early on that we have the same sustainability goals and quality standards for the project."
The advantages of the partnership for both parties are obvious, according to Wilm Schwarzpaul: "AEW not only secures the project at an early stage, but also the opportunity to get involved early on and help shape it in such a way that it meets all of its own requirements. We at ecoPARKS reduce the development risk and conserve equity capital so that we can invest in further particularly sustainable projects."
AEW is convinced both by the location and by the ecoPARKS model of developing particularly sustainable modular commercial and industrial properties and business districts that can be flexibly adapted to the changing needs of users. A new divisible hall including office space is being built on the site in the heart of the Ruhr area using a hybrid timber construction method that can operate entirely without fossil fuels. To this end, a photovoltaic system is being installed on the entire roof to produce electricity for the company's own use and for feeding into the local grid. Heat pumps are planned for heating and cooling. The roof structure will be built using timber construction methods. The hall facades will feature vertical greening and the office extensions will have green roofs. The project is designed in accordance with the BEG-40 standard. The aim is for ecoPARK Gelsenkirchen to achieve DGNB platinum certification.
While the Hagedorn Group has already started civil engineering work, the start of building construction by general contractor Goldbeck will follow shortly. Goldbeck is on board with the idea of using building automation to realize a project that is more intelligent than the standard. The facility will offer potential for two to four units and will have a total of 14 loading ramps, an LED lighting system, PV solar cells, charging stations for cars and bicycles, and heat pumps with a cooling function. Discussions with interested users are already underway.
