900 square metres of water surface and modern sauna landscape - high construction hurdles successfully overcome
Frankfurt am Main - ABG Frankfurt Holding has officially transferred the new Main Bad Bornheim to BäderBetriebe Frankfurt. At the end of February, ABG Managing Director Frank Junker and Boris Zielinski, Managing Director of BäderBetriebe Frankfurt, signed the notarised contract for the handover. The indoor swimming pool built by ABG in recent years will now be operated by the municipal subsidiary. Final technical tests will be carried out in the coming weeks before the pool is expected to open in mid-May.
The new indoor pool offers a wide range of leisure activities on around 900 square metres of water and replaces the Panoramabad Bornheim, which will cease operations after more than 50 years. In addition to sports and adventure pools, bathers can enjoy a tube slide, a wave slide and a separate toddler pool. A 25-metre sports pool with six lanes and a three-metre diving platform as well as a separate teaching pool complete the offer. On the upper floor, visitors can enjoy a spacious sauna area with four themed saunas, a steam bath and relaxation zones.
Construction under difficult conditions
The construction of the new swimming pool presented those responsible with major challenges. "ABG was able to solve a highly demanding task for the city of Frankfurt," explained Junker. Originally planned for a two-year construction period, the project was delayed due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, supply bottlenecks and the explosion in the price of building materials as a result of the war in Ukraine. In particular, the need for steel for the swimming pools caused construction costs to rise.
The building site also caused problems: The site on which the baths were built served as a rubble dump after the Second World War. During the construction work, in addition to machine parts, cables and oil tanks, explosive ordnance was found, including a 250-kilogram bomb. A comprehensive explosive ordnance survey and extensive foundation work were necessary to secure the construction project.
Sustainability and energy efficiency in focus
The new Main Bad Bornheim was built with a particular focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. A large-scale photovoltaic system on the roof supplies up to 150,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. In addition, a combined heat and power plant and modern heat recovery systems ensure energy-efficient operation. Preparations have also been made for the possible future use of waste heat from the neighbouring ice rink.
BäderBetriebe Managing Director Zielinski expressed his satisfaction with the result: "The Main Bad Bornheim will be a special place of recreation for all Frankfurters." After the final preparations, the pool is scheduled to open to the public in mid-May.
