Vinci Energies has signed a public-private partnership (PPP) deal with the German town of Velbert, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, to upgrade and operate its civic centre, the Bürgerforum Niederberg (pictured).
Built in the early 1980s, the forum has a 780-seat theatre, two recreation rooms and a meeting hall that hosts exhibitions and events.
The upgrade will add a media library, cafeteria, citizens office (Bürgerbüro), an education centre and a music and arts centre.
Vinci will renovate the building and raise its height to add more space, while preserving the original architecture, which is listed.
The upgrade will improve the forum’s energy performance so it exceeds federal requirements.
The work will cost €44m, Vinci said. It starts in autumn 2020 and is scheduled to finish in the first quarter of 2023.
Vinci will also receive €32m to operate the building until 2048, providing concierge services, maintenance and energy provision.
"Through this successful partnership, we will bring together culture and education all under one roof. We will create a cultural centre open to people of all ages, located in the heart of our town," said Velbert mayor Dirk Lukrafka.
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"All those involved are excited to see the finished product! The cultural diversity, the possibility of putting on more shows and developing synergies with neighbouring towns in the future represent an extraordinary opportunity for Velbert and its population," said Linda Frenzel, Director of Velbert’s cultural service.
"The architectural specificities and the challenges that arise as a result are what make the Bürgerforum Niederberg project special," said Bernard Jean, Director of Vinci Facilities Solutions GmbH, subsidiary of Vinci Energies.
Since 2004, Vinci Energies has completed around 20 PPP projects in Germany, for which it is still providing operation and maintenance services.
Image: The Bürgerforum Niederberg, Velbert, Germany (Ticketautomat/CC BY 3.0)
