Class becomes quieter: Eichendorffschule installs soundproof windows and safety stairs
The Eichendorff School in Offenbach, Germany, is currently undergoing significant improvements, with the construction of two new external staircases and the replacement of all 200 windows with modern, soundproof windows.
The window replacement, which cost approximately 1.4 million euros, was carried out in collaboration with the Office for Planning and Building and GBM Service GmbH. About 840,000 euros of the cost was funded from a special funding program of the State of Hesse, established in response to the NORAH noise impact study.
The window replacement provides good conditions for the language acquisition of the children by preventing external aircraft noise from distorting or making speech in the classroom inaudible. This improvement is considered important for teaching quality by school board member Paul-Gerhard Weiß, who has not made any public comments regarding the importance of the new staircases for teaching quality.
The new staircases, although serving as additional escape routes, are not explicitly stated to improve the learning environment or language acquisition. They are also not mentioned as having been soundproofed. However, the construction of the new staircases is part of the ongoing improvements at the Eichendorff School.
The construction work will begin in the Easter holidays of 2025, with the completion planned for the autumn holidays of 2026. The work will be carried out in sections to minimize disruption to teaching operations.
Despite extensive online research, no search results were found that provide any details about the funding for the Eichendorff School's improvement project, including information on the new staircases or window replacement. This information is typically found on local government or school district websites, city press releases, or local news sources covering Offenbach.
The State of Hesse's funding program supports measures aimed at minimizing the negative effects of aircraft noise on the reading performance of primary school students. However, the new staircases are not part of the funding provided by the State of Hesse for the window replacement. The remaining cost for the window replacement and the construction of the new staircases was not disclosed.
In summary, the Eichendorff School in Offenbach is undergoing improvements with the construction of new staircases and the replacement of all windows with soundproof windows. The window replacement aims to improve the learning environment by reducing aircraft noise, while the purpose of the new staircases remains unclear. Further details about the funding for these improvements are not currently available.
The new staircases, while contributing to the safety of the school, may not directly enhance the learning environment or language acquisition like the soundproof windows do. The education-and-self-development and learning opportunities at the Eichendorff School are potentially bolstered through the implementation of soundproof windows, which were partially funded by the State of Hesse's special funding program for education and are aimed at minimizing the impact of noise on students' language acquisition.
