New Hochgericht Daycare Opens Early with Modern Facilities

Completion Ahead of Schedule / New Facility to Accommodate 154 Children

Hochgericht's New Daycare Nears Completion Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget

Construction of the Hochgericht Daycare Center in Kesselstadt is making significant progress. Roughly a year and a half after breaking ground, the project is not only on schedule but also within budget. During a recent site visit, Mayor Dr. Maximilian Bieri, Astrid Weiermann (Director of Hanau Municipal Childcare Services), Sibylle Jesgarz (Director of Hanau Municipal Property and Construction Management, or IBM), and IBM project manager Oliver Mößer reviewed the latest developments.

"I am truly impressed by what has been achieved here since the groundbreaking in January 2025," said Mayor Dr. Maximilian Bieri. "Once completed, this will be an outstanding facility—for both the children and the staff." He particularly praised the spacious, modern interiors and the location: "The outdoor area and its proximity to Hochgericht Citizens' Park provide excellent opportunities for physical activity and nature experiences. This is a real asset for our educational work."

The new daycare center is being built on a 5,900-square-meter plot, with a gross floor area of approximately 2,900 square meters. The two-story building will accommodate 154 children in seven groups, ranging in age from infants to six-year-olds. In addition to modern group rooms, the facility will feature generous staff areas and versatile functional spaces, including a large communal dining area. Beyond its practical design, the natural setting adjacent to Hochgericht Citizens' Park—with direct access to outdoor spaces—plays a key role.

"After construction is complete, we will close the existing daycare on Dresdner Straße and relocate all children and staff here," explained Astrid Weiermann, Director of Hanau Municipal Childcare Services. "The new facility offers far more space, beautiful rooms, and diverse developmental opportunities—for both the children and our team." She also highlighted the accelerated progress: "We're thrilled to soon provide families in northwest Hanau with a modern, attractive daycare center." A detailed timeline for the move will be finalized in due course.

The Hanau Municipal Property and Construction Management (IBM) is overseeing the project. "Based on current progress, we expect to finish construction roughly three months ahead of schedule," said Sibylle Jesgarz, IBM's managing director. While completion was initially planned for spring 2027, the building is now projected to be ready by late 2026. Work on the outdoor facilities is set to begin in late summer or early autumn, continuing through February 2025, ensuring quick development of appealing play and recreation areas.

Unique Site Conditions for the New Build

"The construction site was formerly a small soccer field, meaning the actual building area was an open grassy space, allowing us to preserve nearly all of the surrounding trees," noted Sibylle Jesgarz. "From the start, the daycare will benefit from mature trees and expansive green spaces, which—not only for ecological reasons—will provide shade for the children."

Financially, the project remains on track. "With current projected costs of around €8.72 million, we are still within the €8.75 million budget approved by the city council—a very positive outcome given today's construction market," emphasized Mayor Dr. Maximilian Bieri.

The new building is part of the integrated urban development plan "Weststadt with Bürgerpark Hochgericht" under the "Social Cohesion" urban development funding program and is supported by approximately €2.29 million in grants from federal and state governments. The goal is to expand childcare services in the neighborhood in line with demand while creating a future-proof infrastructure for early childhood education. "This will likely be the last new daycare center built in Hanau for the coming years. Nevertheless, we will continue to closely monitor population trends and the resulting need for childcare places," says Dr. Bieri, placing the project within the city's overall childcare strategy.

Construction is currently focused on interior finishing. At the same time, preparations are underway for the façade design, set to begin in spring. The contract for landscaping the outdoor areas is also nearing finalization, with work on this phase scheduled to start at the end of August 2026, following the removal of the scaffolding.