HOCHTIEF is to build a new city hall for the local authority of Gladbeck on the basis of a public-private partnership (PPP) contract. HOCHTIEF will plan, finance, build and subsequently operate the city´s administrative center for 25 years. During this period, Gladbeck will pay a monthly utilization fee. The contract is worth around € 44 million.
The new city hall is to be handed over to the municipal administration in August 2006, after a construction period of just 16 months. First, though, both of the old city hall towers have to be demolished, as they are contaminated with PCB. The new five-story administrative complex will provide some 11,000 m² of space, with workplaces for 400 local authority staff. There will be a passageway linking the new building with the historic Rathaus (city hall). For the duration of the contract, HOCHTIEF will operate and maintain the building. The contract represents the first PPP pilot project for a new city hall in the federal state of Northrhine-Westphalia.
'We are delighted at this PPP contract in the field of public-sector building construction,' says Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter, member of the Executive Board of HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft. He anticipates a substantial market potential in Germany in the next few years: 'Taking just schools, administrative buildings and hospitals, we expect PPP projects with a volume of around € 6 billion to be put out to tender in Germany in the period up to 2009.' PPP models would benefit everyone, he emphasizes and points out that private capital will enable the investment backlog in the public sector to be overcome. Lütkestratkötter: 'In this way, new jobs can be created and at the same time greater efficiency can be achieved in building construction and operation.'
Source: Hochtief
