Photo: Cesar von Meissen
Demolition and new construction
On July 24, 2024, the time had come: the demolition of the regatta grandstand at the Baldeneysee began with setting up the construction site and dismantling the superstructures. Back in 2019, the city of Essen launched a tender for the redesign of the regatta grandstand, regatta tower, regatta parking lot and Regattahaus as well as the shore area on the edge of the regatta course under the planning competition "Redesign of the regatta area at the Baldeneysee Essen". The winning designs were exhibited at Regattahaus at the time and the winning design was to be realized. Five years later, the demolition of the more than sixty-year-old regatta grandstand has now begun. The city of Essen has issued a press release on how the work will proceed, what exactly is planned and what the restrictions for visitors to Lake Baldeney will look like. Baldeneysee.Ruhr provides information here.
Similar shape - functional back
According to a press release from the city of Essen, the old grandstand is to be replaced by a modern, functional building. The new grandstand will be around 135 meters long and offer visitors to Lake Baldeney a platform and 1,700 seats and standing room. So much for the shape. Function rooms and storage facilities for the canoeing, rowing and canoe polo clubs are to be built at the rear, as well as event rooms and a public toilet facility. The new platform will be barrier-free thanks to a lift, so that everyone will have access in the future. Completion of the new grandstand is planned for spring 2026 and should be ready for use in time for the 2026 regatta and event season. However, this schedule depends on various factors, such as weather conditions, material availability and smooth processes in the supply chain. The estimated costs for the conversion amount to around 11 million euros gross.
Procedure of the work
In recent days, all above-ground structures such as seats, railings and electrical installations in the grandstand have been removed. The excavators then arrived on July 26, 2024 and began removing the previous mound of earth. This work will take several weeks. Excavators and wheel loaders will be used to remove the soil layer by layer. A particular focus will be on the professional disposal of pollutants that have accumulated over the years, such as old paint and insulation, as a result of repair work over the years. This includes potentially contaminated materials such as old paint, insulation or contaminated soil. Exploratory drilling had already been carried out on the construction site in advance, during which tar pollutants were found in the building fabric, which had to be removed and sorted accordingly during the course of the work.
Costly material disposal
As the WDR reported, citing the regional association, efforts to curb the growth of Elodea nuttalli using other methods have had little success. Herbivorous fish, water harrows or removal with water pressure were tested as part of a research project. Although the waterweed indicates good water quality and should be seen as a good sign, its proliferation and rapid growth of up to 20 centimetres a day up to the water surface is also dangerous for water sports enthusiasts.
Danger from capsizing
In order to minimize the impact on the environment, the aim is to use measures to bind dust, such as irrigation. The challenge here will be to ensure that none of it gets into the Baldeneysee into the groundwater. There is no information yet on how this is to be prevented. Careful analysis and sorting of the excavated material will be carried out in parallel. If possible, uncontaminated excavated material will be reused for other construction projects or landscaping. Contaminated material, on the other hand, will be professionally separated and disposed of in accordance with the applicable environmental regulations. Strict safety and environmental protection measures will apply throughout the entire dismantling process.
Walkers and athletes
It is expected that walkers and athletes will be able to use the waterfront promenade in the area of the regatta grandstand without restrictions until October 2024. Passenger ships will also continue to dock at the regatta tower. Presumably from October this year, the promenade will no longer be accessible and an alternative route will be set up for walkers. This will run behind the grandstand and the construction site and will allow pedestrians to walk around the area. The path leads from the regatta tower in an arc around the construction site and joins the existing path at Regattahaus . In addition, the first row of parking spaces will be closed. These measures are essential for safety reasons and for the efficient execution of the construction work. The duration of the closure depends on the progress of the work and cannot be predicted at this time.
Cyclists: chicane against too much speed
For cyclists using the cycle path on Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße, a barrier in the form of an illuminated chicane made of barrier elements is to be erected at the entrance to the parking lot at the regatta grandstand in the coming weeks. This is intended to slow down bicycle traffic in order to defuse potentially dangerous situations in connection with vehicles entering and leaving the construction site. As part of the grandstand renovation, the five disabled parking spaces currently located in the first row of parking spaces at the regatta tower will be relocated. The bus parking spaces, on the other hand, are to remain unaffected by the construction work.
Redesign of the area at the Baldeneysee
The demolition and new construction of the grandstand is an independent project, but is part of a more comprehensive development plan for the regatta area. A council resolution from November 2022 provides for a holistic redesign of the area around the regatta tower and Regattahaus to be examined in parallel with the grandstand renovation. This also involves an alternative access route and redesign of the regatta parking lot by building a parking deck. In addition, an expansion of the functions of Regattahaus and the planning of a new center for the promotion of top-class sport as an Olympic training center are also being considered.
Planning and project ideas
These plans beyond the grandstand conversion are currently still at the project idea stage. In the coming months, they will be subjected to a feasibility check and optimized if necessary. For example, possibilities will be examined to sustainably upgrade the entire regatta area in the course of the renovation of the regatta grandstand. Baldeneysee sustainably upgrade the entire regatta area. Both the needs of top-class sport and the public will be taken into account. Concrete schedules and costs for these further projects have not yet been determined. These are to be worked out in the near future in close consultation with all those involved. Baldeneysee.Ruhr will stay tuned.