What will happen to the former indoor swimming pool in Lobeda-West?

There are many ideas as to how the former indoor swimming pool in Lobeda-West could be used in the future. But which of them are actually feasible? The city of Jena presented an interim status to the Jena City Council on 06.05.2026.

"There is a great deal of interest in the subsequent use of the old former indoor swimming pool. There are many good proposals that are desirable and would offer added value. But the decision must be carefully considered," emphasizes Dirk Lange, Head of Urban Development and Environment. "We are working closely with Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH, the owner of the hall, to find a viable solution."

Bernhard Dengel, Managing Director of Jenaer Bäder: "It is important to us that we develop the future use of the former swimming hall step by step and together with the city and Stadtwerke Jena. The feasibility study we commissioned, together with the workshops that have already been held, forms an important basis for this."

Feasibility study now available

The feasibility study commissioned by Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH has been completed. It is now intended to show which future usage options are feasible for the hall and which prerequisites need to be created for this.

Participation to date

The results of previous participation have also been incorporated into the study. Around 2,700 people took part in an online survey in summer 2024. Their wishes ranged from sport and exercise to culture and meeting and leisure facilities.

Based on this, the city administration carried out a three-stage workshop process in spring 2025. Participants included the city sports association, surrounding schools, JenaKultur, the youth parliament, the district mayor as well as specialist departments and municipal institutions. The process was accompanied by the external office "Die Zukunftsoptimisten UG".

Interim use

One of the options considered was to use the former pool area for open leisure, exercise or cultural activities. Other areas could be used as rehearsal rooms, for subcultural activities, sports activities or gastronomy. Individual rooms will be used temporarily as part of the GalaxSea refurbishment: for example, massages and beauty treatments will temporarily move into the former Lobeda indoor swimming pool from June 2026.

Background

With the opening of the new "swimming paradise" in Karl-Marx-Allee in August 2023, the original use of the former indoor swimming pool in Lobeda-West was discontinued. At the end of November 2024, the Jena City Council commissioned the city administration to examine possible options for the interim and subsequent use of the hall.