Winning concept for the first construction site of the new Eichplatz area in Jena has been determined

• STRABAG Real Estate GmbH(strabag-real-estate.com) scores in the bidding process with high architectural quality and diverse utilization concept
• Winning design is the result of broad-based public participation
• City council is expected to vote on the award in October

On September 17, 2020, the city of Jena will present the winning design from the bidding process for the Eichplatz development to the general public. STRABAG Real Estate GmbH's concept, which received the highest marks from both the workshop and architecture committees, won out thanks to its diverse uses and very high architectural quality. The Eichplatz site in the heart of Jena is thus opening a new chapter in its eventful history and will be transformed into an attractive and lively city center.

Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Lord Mayor of the City of Jena, says: "With the selection of the winning design and investor, we have reached a very important milestone and are presenting a good plan for Jena. I am delighted that the development of the Eichplatz site will bring even more life to the city center - in newly created apartments, offices, stores, cafés and restaurants. Jena's new city center will radiate into the surrounding area and make a positive contribution to the further development of our city.

Mayor Christian Gerlitz adds: "One of the most exciting and complex urban development projects has achieved its first successful result after five years of intensive work. This was only possible thanks to the broad public participation throughout the entire process. A big thank you to all the citizens involved, members of the citizens' initiative 'Mein Eichplatz', the city center initiative, the youth parliament, politicians and the administration. They have all put their heart and soul and passion into creating a new city center for Jena."

Manuel Rost from Jena has been a member of the workshop committee since 2015. He says of the process: "Being involved in the design of a city as a resident was a new and successful concept and I am confident that this approach will set a precedent for future construction projects. The workshop committee is a great opportunity to contribute to the design of the city. With expert guidance, we have managed to solve questions and problems about the project together and in dialog."

Procedure for construction site A

After the last development concept was rejected in 2014, planning was resumed after just one year with broad-based public participation. A workshop committee, consisting of a representative cross-section of Jena's population and elected at random, as well as representatives from the city, politics, the youth parliament and the city center initiative, have constantly accompanied the construction project since then. 39 participation events have taken place to date. Ten principles for Eichplatz were drawn up at the beginning, which have served as guidelines for the development ever since. A framework plan was developed on this basis in 2017. The tendering process then began in 2018 and the first architectural designs were evaluated.

Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche: "Since then, we have been obliged to maintain confidentiality for procedural reasons and towards the investors and have not been able to disclose much information to the public."

The results of the investor selection process were presented to the workshop committee and discussed on September 3. The city council was informed on September 16. The winning concept will then be presented to various committees and the citizens' forum. The final vote is planned for the next city council meeting in October. Meanwhile, public participation continues: the plans for the Stadtgarten are being further refined and construction site B is entering the design phase.

The winning concept - a good plan for Jena

The winning concept was selected as the best by both the workshop and architecture committees. Three high points will be created and will redefine the image of the city center. Overall, the design is characterized by timeless and modern architecture. The utilization concept is very diverse: approx. 3,900m² of space for gastronomy and retail and approx. 6,600m² of office space will be created on the site. A total of 178 apartments - of different sizes and price categories - are planned.
The work cleverly and intelligently develops the urban planning approach of the framework plan, particularly taking into account the surrounding urban spaces and neighboring city facades. The three new high points on the first construction site will be recognizable as individual buildings from a distance due to their different façades and colors. Inside the quarter, an independent spatial structure will be created. The areas on the plinths will be intensively landscaped and offered to the community and adjacent apartments. Overall, there is a very good connection with the surrounding urban spaces and squares. The first floor zones with their colonnades strengthen the spatial opening for passers-by. They emphasize the building entrances as well as the adjacent spaces for restaurants and retail.

How can citizens find out more about the new Eichplatz site?

Information and background, milestones in the process to date and important questions and answers can be found at www.eichplatzareal.de.
Next Saturday, 19.09.2020, 3 to 5 pm, a citizens' forum will take place in the Volkshaus Jena. For reasons of infection protection, a maximum of 100 people can attend. However, the event will also be broadcast live at www.eichplatzareal.de and questions can be asked.

Using the Eichplatz app (app stores -> Eichplatz), interested parties can already see a 3D model of the new Eichplatz area and visualize it on site using augmented reality (AR). The app can be downloaded from the Playstore and AppStore. The displays can be found at three locations on Eichplatz. These must be scanned with the app - and the new city center of Jena appears.

A flyer with the most important figures, data and facts about the Eichplatz development will be displayed at central locations in the city.

Further information will be shared via the city of Jena's social media channels in the coming weeks.

About Strabag Real Estate GmbH

STRABAG Real Estate GmbH (SRE) is one of the leading project development companies in Germany and Europe and is part of STRABAG SE, a leading European technology group for construction services in terms of innovation and capital strength. SRE has offices in the main economic centers in Germany, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
The range of services covers all phases of project development - from initiation and planning to realization, letting and sale. The portfolio includes the development and realization of office, commercial and retail properties as well as residential buildings, hotels and special properties.
Since its foundation in 1965, STRABAG Real Estate GmbH has realized over 600 real estate projects, creating numerous values for generations.