Augsburg's new secondary school: construction costs explode to 121 million euros!

Augsburg's new secondary school: construction costs explode to 121 million euros!

On November 4, 2025, the Augsburg city council made a groundbreaking decision: the construction of a new secondary school on Albrecht-Dürer-Straße was unanimously decided. This happened after years of location comparisons and intensive considerations. Education Mayor Martina Wild emphasized the importance of the proximity to the Bayernkolleg for the new facility. This decision is being celebrated by many as a step in the right direction, even if a critical look is taken at the planning times.

Construction officer Steffen Kercher has set the expected completion date for 2036. However, critics raise concerns about the long 11-year timeframe for planning and construction, which poses a challenge to the city's education situation. Currently, several hundred students from Augsburg commute to surrounding communities every year to avoid a lack of space at existing schools. The new secondary school could help here and ensure that no child is left behind.

High costs and bureaucratic hurdles

The construction costs for the new school project are estimated at around 121 million euros, with 18.4 million euros planned for the development of the property. This results in an estimated usable area of ​​approximately 8,700 square meters. What is striking is that the costs per square meter are around 11,700 euros, 70% higher than the Bavarian benchmark of 6,900 euros. Deducting the expenses for the planned triple gymnasium and underground car park, around 88 million euros remain for the school building. Many questions remain unanswered, especially whether the suspicion of excessive bureaucracy and special requirements will ultimately come true.

“Compared to other cities, it shows that similar school projects can be implemented much more cheaply,” said some city councilors, criticizing the high cost structure. It is thought a lack of resolve in the city's political circles will not go unnoticed and could have an impact on costs, which could cost millions of euros in the long term.

The next steps

The decision, which was made on October 22, 2024 by the committees for construction and building construction as well as education and migration, is the first step in a longer process. The administration was commissioned to examine various alternative locations for the new secondary school. At the meeting in October 2025, five variants were examined by a cross-departmental working group. The criteria that were taken into account during the evaluation included space availability, plot layout, transport connections and educational suitability. The area on Zugspitzstrasse is also being considered as a possible location.

It remains to be seen how the discussion about the realization of the new secondary school will develop and whether the goals set can actually be achieved. In any case, the need for additional school space in Augsburg is undisputed - the future of the school landscape in the Fugger city is at stake.