Germany – Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services – Neukonzeption Dritter Ort Medienzentrum [Stadt Waltrop]

The city of Waltrop plans to implement a media centre, which will also house the city library. The media centre (approximately 230 sq.m. of usable space) is planned as an extension to the former break room of the Volkshochschule Waltrop (House of Education and Culture - formerly the Amtshaus and Rektoratsschule) and is intended to provide a multifunctional space. In addition to the classic lending of various media (books, DVDs, audiobooks, Tonies, etc.), the topic of digitalisation will play an important role in the future. Offers in the sense of a library of things in combination with a maker space should also be provided in the media centre, as well as corresponding workshops and readings. The former break room and the adjacent covered corridor (approximately 170 sq.m. gross floor area) were converted in 2023 with funding from the "Third Places - Houses for Culture and Encounter in Rural Areas" program into a cultural living room and interim library with an adjacent creative and reading garden. As part of these measures, some rooms have already undergone renovation. The subsequent award will include the energy renovation of the former break room, including the conversion of individual rooms, and the extension to include a multifunctional usable room [media centre with library]. Interventions in the existing areas should be kept as minimal as possible. The competition should present alternative solutions for this task and provide a coherent overall concept. The client has budgeted approximately 2.2 million euros (gross) for the cost groups 200-700 for this measure. This results in approximately 1.4 million euros (gross) for cost groups 300 and 400. Cost-effectiveness in terms of investment and follow-up costs plays a significant role. Based on the new development of the Integrated Urban Development Concept for Waltrop City Centre, this measure will also be supported with 70% funding. The relevant funding conditions must be observed during planning and implementation. The implementation of the measure is dependent on the funding and political decisions.