Objective and project description

The city of Erlangen is aiming to further develop and reorganize the area within the Fahrstraße, Südliche Stadtmauerstraße, Raumerstraße and Henkestraße building block. This quarter is located on the so-called "axis of science" between the historical educational institutions of the university (Universitätsstraße) and the future humanities center Himbeerpalast. Important municipal and state educational and cultural institutions are located along this axis. The planned new development of the quarter with public uses is thus intended to strengthen the "axis of science" both functionally and in terms of urban development. The adjacent Frankenhof to the east is already being extensively renovated and developed into the Frankenhof Culture and Education Campus (KuBiC).

A feasibility study was commissioned in advance to check whether all the desired uses could be accommodated on the limited space. This was completed in 2021, with the result that the planned uses can be realized on the site. In October 2021, the city council decided to hold a competition based on the feasibility study with a realization and ideas section.

The aim of the competition is to build a new sports hall to replace the Friedrich-Sponsel-Halle, which is in need of renovation. This new sports hall is intended to meet the needs of the neighboring Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium (CEG) and club sports. In addition, the construction of a two-storey underground car park is planned, which will be available to both the public and the teaching staff of the CEG. Other uses to be accommodated on the site include administrative offices (sports office), rooms for the City of Erlangen's games pool, additional classrooms for the CEG, outdoor sports facilities and a bicycle parking garage. In addition, the open spaces are to be designed as openly as possible and enable synergy effects between the cultural, educational and sports facilities.

Resolutions in the UVPA / city council

23.06.2020 - UVPA: Urban development of the "Quartier KuBiC" - area between the KuBiC Frankenhof and the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium; here: Feasibility study

19.10.2021 - UVPA: Urban development of the KuBiC quarter - area between the KuBiC Frankenhof and the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium (CEG); here: Results of the feasibility study and implementation of an urban planning ideas and realization competition

29.06.2023 - City Council: Reorganization and further development of the KuBiC / CEG quarter: Implementation of an urban development, open space planning and structural engineering realization and ideas competition; here: Resolution on the terms of reference

Task of the competition

The competition brief included structural engineering tasks on the one hand and urban and open space planning tasks on the other. Due to the many desired uses, an optimized utilization of the available space is required. From an urban planning perspective, the closing of the spatial edge to the Fahrstraße (axis of science) and the southern Stadtmauerstraße is a key objective.

The city of Erlangen has therefore launched a competition for the realization and ideas of structural engineering, urban development and open space planning.

Task realization part

• A new triple sports hall to replace the Friedrich-Sponsel-Halle, which is in need of renovation
• A two-storey public underground car park (also to replace parking spaces in the street and for CEG teachers)
• Additional classrooms for the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium (CEG)
• Outdoor sports facilities for the CEG
• Rooms for the administration (sports office) and rooms for the games pool with workshop and storage
• A bicycle parking garage
• Open spaces: preservation of the open spaces of the CEG (schoolyard) with the existing characteristic tree population, permeable design of the building block / public passage / synergies with the KuBiC Frankenhof

Task definition for the ideas section

In addition to the task in the realization part, the city of Erlangen is looking for ideas for the new use of the current Friedrich-Sponsel-Halle, the conversion of the listed building at Friedrichstraße 35 and ideas for the redesign of the surrounding public street spaces.

Competition procedure

Type of procedure: Single-stage, non-open competition with a maximum of 15 participating offices
3 participating offices selected, EU-wide application option, 12 participants drawn by lot
Expert jury: Expert judges, representatives of the city council's political groups/committee groups and the inner city district advisory board, as well as advisors: Representatives of the city administration and Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium

Evaluation criteria:

• Urban design & open space
• Architecture & function
• Design & materiality
• sustainability
• Climate protection & climate adaptation
• Feasibility & economic viability

14 competition entries were submitted.
The jury meeting took place on 17.04.2024.

Prizes:

The jury unanimously awarded a first prize, two third prizes and two commendations:

1st prize: Löhle Neubauer Architekten + Lex Kerfers Landschaftsarchitekten
a 3rd prize: Bruno Fioretti Marquez GmbH + Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur
a 3rd prize: stm°architekten Stößlein Mertenbacher + Lorenz Landschaftsarchitekten

Recognitions went to:

um-architekt (Ulrich Manz) with JOMA Landschaftsarchitektur
Hähnig Gemmeke Architects + Landscape Planners

Further information on the 1st prize can be found on the websites of the architectural firms:

löhle.neubauer_architekten
Lex Kerfers_Landscape architects

Further procedure

A detailed schedule for the next steps is currently being drawn up and will be announced in good time.
The City of Erlangen will keep citizens informed of progress at regular intervals.

Here is a rough timetable:

Contact / Responsible for the content

For further information and queries, please contact Anja Körner at the Office for Urban Planning and Mobility, Urban Planning Department(Anja.Koerner@stadt.erlangen.de, Tel: 09131 86-1340)