PRESS RELEASE

Hamburg is building its educational future

SCHULBAU Salon & Messe Hamburg – November 10 & 11, 2025
With Hamburg’s Senator for Schools Ksenija Bekeris and Senator for Finance Dr. Andreas Dressel

Hamburg is facing a huge task: around 50 new schools are to be built by 2028 at a cost of over 2.6 billion euros. There are also hundreds of renovation measures. Since 2011, Hamburg has invested around billions of euros in its school buildings, and further investments of 2.6 billion euros are planned by 2028 alone. Together, this amounts to over 1,000 refurbishments and 620 new construction measures. The city is growing, demands are increasing and the educational landscape must keep pace. But how can this be achieved in a sustainable, inclusive and educationally sensible way? SCHULBAU Salon & Messe Hamburg 2025 addresses these challenges and offers a platform for experts from the fields of architecture, urban development, education and politics to exchange ideas.

School construction concerns everyone – trade fair becomes public event

This year, SCHULBAU Messe Hamburg 2025 is deliberately opening up to the general public. Because school construction is everywhere and concerns everyone. “Schools shape neighborhoods, influence mobility and are places where our children grow up. This is not just building policy, but social policy,” says Schulbau Managing Director Kirsten Jung, who launched this trade fair more than 10 years ago.

Political leaders accompany the kick-off

In addition to Kirsten Jung, there will also be opening speeches and greetings from Ksenija Bekeris, Senator, Ministry for Schools and Vocational Training, Hamburg, Dr. Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance and President of the Finance Authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and Mark Rackles, Senator for Children and Education Bremen. This will be followed by a tour with the senators.

School toilets – a perennial issue

Danish entrepreneur Lars Forsberg from IWI Technology presents clever reward systems for the bathroom. For example, accuracy and cleanliness can be rewarded digitally. Forsberg received the Danish Design Award for this in 2020.

School canteens as learning spaces

Healthy nutrition is part of educational quality – and the realization has long since taken hold that nutrition as part of the educational mission must become a much more important part of everyday school life. SCHULBAU Messe Hamburg 2025 will show how professional school kitchens and canteens can become learning spaces.

Scandinavia as a driving force

For over 10 years, SCHULBAU Messe has been cooperating with Copenhagen, a city that sees educational construction as a social mission. For example, the conversion of listed buildings shows how architecture can promote participation and community. Danish offices such as AART Architects are also active in Hamburg and contribute their expertise.

Award ceremony for school construction student competition

On November 10, the prizes of the SCHULBAU Student Competition 2025 will be awarded – in cooperation with HafenCity University Hamburg. Some of the prize-winning designs have already been implemented over the years. Afterwards, the fair invites you to a “Blue Hour” with DJ, drinks and dialog.

Municipalities from the north with projects of the century

The town of Lehrte near Hanover is presenting its project of the century as a model municipality: the joint construction of an IGS and secondary school with an investment volume of 200 million euros. The campus offers space for 1,800 pupils, a canteen for 1,000 meals a day and a sports hall – planned in cooperation with German-Danish architects.

Program highlights

Workshops, bike talks and table tennis sessions as well as a tour with Hamburg’s senators make the trade fair an experience.

Monday, November 10

• 11:15 – 11:50 a.m.: Opening with Ksenija Bekeris, Dr. Andreas Dressel and Mark Rackles.
• 12:00 – 12:20: Phase Zero & Participation – How pedagogical concepts are developed before construction.
• 15:15: Presentation of the HCU student competition.
• 16:00 – 18:00: Blue hour with drinks, snacks and DJ.

Tuesday, November 11

• 11:10 – 11:40 a.m.: Q&A at the kitchen table with Kirsten Jung, Jan Schneck (SBH) and Prof. Dr. Sven Uhrhan.
• 12:30 – 15:30: Planning café.
• 15:00: From the quiet room to a culture of learning.
• 16:00 – 17:00: Excursion.

Subject areas

• Sustainability & climate protection: timber hybrid buildings, green roofs, EG-40 standard.
• Digitalization & room concepts: Learning landscapes, retreats, all-day.
• Subsidies & financing: KfW and regional offices provide advice on site.
• School in the neighborhood: educational locations as social anchor points in urban development.

Venue & Tickets

Venue: Cruise Center Altona, Hamburg
Tickets: from €20 (reduced) to €45, students pay no admission.
www.schulbau.online

Time: Monday, 10.11., and Tuesday, 11.11., both from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Accreditation for media representatives

Wiebke Spannuth – wiebke.spannuth@wmcommunications.de – Tel. 0179 1090121
Elena Runkel – elena.runkel@cubusmedien.de – Tel. +49 40 80 80 57 281
Sandra Huster – sandra.huster@cubusmedien.de – Tel. +49 40 80 80 57 283