City and University of Kassel open new three-field sports hall

Kassel now has a new, modern three-field sports hall (task hall). Lord Mayor Christian Geselle and City Planning Officer Christof Nolda, together with Dr. Oliver Fromm, Chancellor of Kassel University, opened the new sports facility at the Auepark sports complex on Monday, June 15. Due to the Corona pandemic, a larger opening ceremony with guests and clubs had to be dispensed with.

"New hall one of the largest municipal construction projects".

"The new sports hall is one of the largest municipal construction projects in recent years and is an enormous gain for the municipal sports infrastructure," explained Mayor Geselle. "With the new building, we can offer additional indoor time not only to the university, but also to our schools and sports clubs."

The opening is an encouraging signal, especially against the backdrop of the Corona pandemic, Geselle further emphasized. Despite the current challenges, the construction companies managed to complete the new sports facility without any major delays, he added. Geselle: "We are talking about a financial order of magnitude for the new building, which is not an everyday occurrence. That's why it was also planned to open the new sports hall on a larger scale with guests and sports clubs - but we'd like to make up for that in due course."

Optimal conditions for university and university sports

For the growing University of Kassel, the hall is of great importance for sports science research, Chancellor Dr. Oliver Fromm emphasized: "With the task hall, we are creating optimal conditions for sports science in Kassel. Sport is a socially relevant topic - from fall prevention for seniors to concepts for ball sports for elementary school students. University sports are also being strengthened. Attractive sports offerings are an important decision factor for many young people when choosing where to study."

The new hall was made possible by the Transfer and Application Center for Sport in Kassel (task) cooperation project initiated by the city and the university. It involves close cooperation between the two institutions with the aim of transferring sports-related projects from scientific research work to practical sports applications. The new sports hall is also home to a 120-square-meter exercise room as well as office space for employees of the University of Kassel and the city of Kassel working on task projects.

Exterior façade makes hall seem to float above meadow

"The task hall convinces not only with its functional qualities, but also with its architectural design. The special location on the edge of the listed Karlsaue requires sensitive integration of the new building and inspired an unusual façade design," explained city building official Christof Nolda, referring to outstanding remaining work on the exterior façade that will be completed by August. "When everything is finished, the special construction of the outer shell will give the impression that the entire building is, as it were, floating above the surrounding meadow."

Kassel's sports clubs will begin using the new task hall at the end of July. Initially, it will serve to compensate for hall times that are currently unavailable to clubs due to the renovation work at the closed Königstorhalle. Should there still be free capacity, this will be made available to clubs that have registered their needs with the municipal sports office.

Usage agreement regulates occupancy times

It is planned that the city of Kassel will have 60 percent of the occupancy times of the three-field hall and the associated exercise room at its disposal. The University of Kassel will use 40 percent of the task hall. The specific times of use across the days of the week have already been agreed between the cooperation partners.

The construction of the new three-field sports hall cost around 6.3 million euros. The state of Hesse supported the construction with a total of 2.4 million euros through a special investment program for outstanding sports facilities.

The University of Kassel contributed 1.5 million euros. The city of Kassel invested about 2.4 million euros, plus about 900,000 euros for the construction of an artificial turf field near the task hall in the Auepark.

Compact building with short, clear paths

The new three-field sports hall presents itself as a compact building with short, clear paths. The central, generously dimensioned foyer with its wide overhanging canopy becomes the focal point of the sports hall. From here, all areas, such as the sports areas and the changing rooms on the first floor, as well as the spectator area, the multifunctional area and the offices on the upper floor, are accessible via the shortest possible route. Special care was taken to ensure barrier-free and handicapped-accessible planning and design of the rooms for visitors and athletes.

The building was realized according to the plans of h.s.d. architekten BDA from Lemgo, which had won 1st prize in the architectural competition organized by the city and the university. While the actual structure with its anthracite-colored trapezoidal sheet metal facade is rather restrained in relation to its surroundings, the surrounding trellis made of a stainless steel mesh, among other things for climbing roses, characterizes the appearance of the task hall. This all-round second skin, blooming in pure green or white to red depending on the season, is structurally framed by an upper and lower frame made of anthracite-colored trapezoidal sheet metal. Functionally, the task hall belongs to the sports facilities, but in terms of design, with its floating and continuously greened facade, it seems to be more part of the park.

Background: New artificial turf pitch as replacement

The construction of the task hall meant that a grass playing field behind the Auepark sports hall had to be eliminated. For this reason, a hard pitch located in the sports area had already been converted into a modern artificial turf pitch that can be played on all year round. The 68 by 105 meter pitch had been opened in June 2018.

Contact:
Markus Zens
Press and Public Relations
Tel. 0561 - 804 1961
markus.zens[at]uni-kassel[dot]de