Frankfurt and Frankfurt Chamber of Crafts Sign Letter of Intent for New Vocational Training Campus

The city and the Chamber of Crafts want to combine vocational school and further training in Rödelheim.

It is not only an ambitious and forward-looking project, but – those responsible agree – it is also unique in the Federal Republic: The city of Frankfurt and the Frankfurt Chamber of Crafts want to create a campus for vocational training on the former Flint site in the Rödelheim district. On Thursday, both sides signed a letter of intent for the million-dollar project.

The property on Gaugrafenstrasse has belonged to the city and the Chamber of Crafts since the beginning of the month. Between 36 and 38 million euros were paid for it, with the city covering two thirds of the sum and thus also owning two thirds of the 38,000 square meter property. This will now be filled with life – i.e. built on – over the next four years.

On the one hand, the plan is to build the new Philipp Holzmann School there, which is currently located on Siolistraße at the Westend university campus. The vocational school currently has around 2,500 students and offers seven professional fields in the areas of construction, building and agricultural management as well as environmental technology. It is also a technical school, technical college and vocational high school.

The Chamber of Crafts would like to build a vocational training and technology center on its part of the site. This is intended to offer courses for professional orientation, inter-company apprenticeship training, master craftsman preparation courses and advanced training modules.

“It can only be done together,” said Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) at the signing on Thursday. By this he meant not only the joint financing, but above all the desired joint use. Workshops, a sports hall, a canteen and a parking garage are also to be built on the site. All of these buildings should be used by the actors on the site – and, if possible, also be available to the public in the district. Education department head Sylvia Weber (SPD) explained that all-day offers should be created on site.

The Chamber of Crafts is also planning a guest house for the trainees, which will offer up to 200 beds. People who only come to the training for a few days or weeks can also be accommodated there. The Chamber of Crafts is planning 80 million euros for its construction work. Some of these should also be funded by the federal and state governments.

The amount that the city is contributing to the project cannot yet be quantified. The new construction of the Holzmann School was valued at 200 million euros in the past. A precise plan including financing is to be submitted to the city parliament at the beginning of 2024. The city council then has the final say on the campus.

Those responsible in the city at least leave no doubt that the project makes sense. “We already need numerous well-trained specialists in all possible professional areas,” said Josef. The campus does its part to generate these skilled workers through good training with excellent infrastructure. But the building also has a signaling effect, said the mayor. “In these times we need confidence. This signing is an optimistic message to everyone.” The city wants to show that it is investing in the future.

Chamber of Crafts President Susanne Haus was pleased that the course had been set for an attractive training location. The campus has been in planning since 2019. The declaration of intent and the acquisition of the property are now important milestones. She spoke of a flagship project that was already known in Berlin and was being followed with curiosity. The first demolition work on the site could begin in January 2024. The gradual commissioning of the campus is planned for the end of 2027.