Hemsö has entered a joint venture with Austrian Real Estate (ARE), a wholly owned subsidiary of the real estate company Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG), which is fully owned by the Austrian state. The school in Cologne is the companies’ first joint development project. Previously, Hemsö has developed a new secondary and high school in Zossen and is set to develop a new secondary school in Rangsdorf, both located outside Berlin.

“The need for new developments and renovation of schools and other educational and research facilities is enormous in Germany.”

“Both ARE and Hemsö have deep expertise in the development and asset management of schools. By bringing the parties together in a joint venture, we create an experienced player in the school segment and a strong partner for municipalities in Germany. We are pleased to be entrusted with contributing to the development of Cologne’s social infrastructure and look forward to doing so with ARE,” says Jens Nagel, Head of Region Germany at Hemsö.

The new school is being developed from an existing building from 2008. It will undergo extensive renovation and a major extension. The property will also feature sports halls, rooftop schoolyards, and a parking garage. The project has a strong sustainability focus, including passive house construction, generous green and outdoor areas, and climate-friendly energy supply. A solar power system of 180 kWp will be installed on the school’s roof. The building is in the Kalk district of Cologne, Germany’s fourth-largest city.

Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2025, with completion expected by summer 2028.