Schwerin, Germany – A new, state-of-the-art multi-sport hall is slated for construction at the Niels-Stensen-Schule, a Catholic school in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The project, announced Thursday, will receive up to €4.24 million in funding from the state government, sourced from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The news was delivered by Minister President Manuela Schwesig during a visit to the school campus.
“Sport connects – we all know that,” Schwesig stated, according to a press release from the state government. “It brings people together, strengthens teamwork and creates successes that can only be achieved together. And sport is especially crucial for young people. It keeps them fit, builds self-confidence, and teaches us fairness and solidarity.” The new facility aims to eliminate the need for Niels-Stensen-Schule students to travel across Schwerin for physical education classes.
The planned hall, estimated to cost approximately €7.88 million, will be built on a plot of land at Eisenbahnstraße / Ecke Brunnenstraße. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026, with completion and opening anticipated for the start of the 2027/28 school year. The Erzbistum Hamburg (Hamburg Archdiocese) is responsible for the construction as the building owner.
The new sports hall will be a timber-framed construction, reflecting a commitment to sustainable building practices. The design incorporates full accessibility on the ground floor and a divisible playing field capable of accommodating basketball, volleyball, badminton, dance, gymnastics, and other sports. Schwesig highlighted the hall’s accessibility, stating it will allow “everyone to participate.”
The Niels-Stensen-Schule, founded in 1735, is the second oldest school in Schwerin and the oldest Catholic school in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, according to Wikipedia. The school currently serves students from the first to the twelfth grade, encompassing a primary school, a regional school, and a gymnasium.
Bernd Nottebaum, Deputy Mayor and Head of Building for the city of Schwerin, praised the collaborative effort between the school, the local authorities, and the state government. “The cooperation between school, sponsor, city and state in this hall project stands for exemplary cooperation,” Nottebaum said. He noted that the city initially proposed the project for EU funding through the ERDF, a suggestion that received broad support from the city council.
Dr. Christopher Haep, Director of the Bernostiftung Foundation and Head of the School Department of the Hamburg Archdiocese, expressed gratitude to Minister President Schwesig and Deputy Mayor Nottebaum for their support. “We are pleased that the realization of the sports hall construction is progressing powerfully, so that One can aim for completion and commissioning at the beginning of the school year 2027/28,” Haep stated. He emphasized that the hall will not only benefit the Niels-Stensen-Schule but also contribute to the broader sporting infrastructure of Schwerin, with plans to open the facility for use by local sports clubs.
The Bernostiftung, based in Schwerin, oversees Catholic schools and after-school programs throughout the regions of Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, including the Niels-Stensen-Schule. The foundation plays a key role in supporting the school’s mission and values.
School Principal Paul Zehe highlighted the positive impact the new facility will have on students. “With the new sports hall, we will be able to further improve the quality of our school’s offerings for our 750 students,” Zehe said. “The significantly shorter distances will automatically ensure more exercise time in physical education.”
The project represents a significant investment in youth sports and education in Schwerin. The new hall is designed to be a modern, accessible, and sustainable facility that will serve the needs of the Niels-Stensen-Schule community and the wider city for years to arrive. The use of timber construction aligns with growing trends in sustainable building practices, reducing the environmental impact of the project.
Beyond the immediate benefits to the school, the planned opening of the hall to local sports clubs underscores a commitment to community engagement and maximizing the use of public resources. This collaborative approach aims to enhance the overall sporting landscape in Schwerin, providing more opportunities for residents to participate in physical activity.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2026, with the hall slated to open for the 2027/28 school year. The project’s progress will be closely watched by the Schwerin community as it takes shape, promising a brighter future for sports and education in the region.
The next key milestone for the project is the commencement of construction in Spring 2026. Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on the progress of the Niels-Stensen-Schule sports hall.
