Berlin to Invest €600 Million in Pool Modernisation, Two New Indoor Pools Planned
Berlin is embarking on a massive overhaul of its public swimming pools, with an investment of 600 million euros by 2030. This extensive program, announced by Berliner Bäder-Betriebe (BBB) and Berlin’s Senator for the Interior and Sport, Iris Spranger (SPD), marks the largest investment in the company’s 30-year history. The initiative aims to bring all indoor and outdoor pools up to modern technical standards, addressing decades of accumulated maintenance backlogs. Additionally, Berliners can look forward to two brand-new indoor swimming pools.
Extensive Renovations Underway Across the City
To highlight the ongoing projects, BBB showcased the newly renovated Stadtbad Schöneberg on Hauptstraße. After two years of extensive work, the facility is set to reopen to the public on August 26. The 14-million-euro renovation of the nearly 100-year-old pool included a complete technical overhaul, with renewed filtration and water treatment systems, renovated indoor and outdoor pools, a brine pool, two whirlpools, and a new ventilation system.
Senator Iris Spranger, during her visit to Stadtbad Schöneberg, announced that the districts of Lichtenberg and Treptow-Köpenick are each slated to receive a new swimming pool. Further details regarding these projects will be revealed after additional planning. Funding has also been secured for new swimming pools already planned for Spandau, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, and Pankow.
Kombibad Mariendorf and Other Key Projects
Residents in the south of Berlin received positive news regarding Kombibad Mariendorf, which has been closed for several years following a fire. Renovation work is scheduled to commence next year and is expected to be completed by 2030.
The comprehensive renovation list for Berliner Bäder-Betriebe also includes:
- Stadtbad Wilmersdorf I
- Sommerbad Humboldthain
- Stadtbad Neukölln
- Schwimmhalle Finckensteinallee
- Schwimmhalle Baumschulenweg
- Kombibad Seestraße
- Sport- und Lehrschwimmhalle Schöneberg
These facilities will undergo energy-efficiency upgrades and partial or full renovations to ensure their longevity and modern functionality.
Climate-Friendly Modernisation and Funding
A significant portion of the investment focuses on climate-friendly modernisation. At Stadtbad Charlottenburg, 40 million euros have been allocated to structurally connect old and new pool buildings, creating a unified complex. This project, like many others, will be financed through the State of Berlin’s Climate Pact.
Marie Rupprecht, BBB board member, stated, “Overall, we are receiving 204 million euros. This enables us to implement important and sustainable measures for which there was previously no funding.” These measures include climate-related upgrades such as pool covers, which help maintain water temperature and prevent evaporation, effectively reducing heat loss by up to 30 percent. Rupprecht emphasised the importance of these initiatives, noting that “swimming pools consume enormous amounts of energy.”
Upcoming Reopenings and Guaranteed School Swimming Lessons
Several other pools are nearing completion or are scheduled for reopening in the coming years:
- Paracelsus-Bad in Reinickendorf: Reopening in 2027 after eight years of construction.
- Stadtbad Tiergarten: Outdoor pool to be completed and ready for use in 2027.
- Spreewaldplatz wave pool in Kreuzberg: Scheduled to reopen in the first quarter of 2028.
BBB CEO Johannes Kleinsorg highlighted the urgent need for both Paracelsus-Bad and the wave pool to serve schools, sports clubs, and the general public.
Kleinsorg acknowledged that the extensive renovation work would inevitably lead to temporary closures of various indoor and outdoor swimming pools. “This situation will remain with us for some time,” he said. However, he reassured the public that “compulsory school swimming lessons will be guaranteed throughout the renovation period.”
Berliner Bäder-Betriebe will continue to offer swimming courses during the summer holidays, with places still available for the beginner “Seepferdchen” course and the follow-up course at www.kurse.berlinerbaeder.de.
This article was originally published in German on June 25th and translated into English with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.
Source: Berliner Bäder-Betriebe, Berlin’s Senator for the Interior and Sport, Berliner Morgenpost
