Kindergarten of some kind: former German data center converted into preschool

Bonn, Germany, is in dire need of kindergartens, so they are sometimes placed in the most unexpected places. Thus, 70 children in four regular groups and one nursery are soon to be accommodated in a former data center built in the 1980s, the architecture of which practically did not provide for windows, reports the publication General Anzeiger.

According to a representative of the asset management company Swiss Life Asset Managers, the construction of the kindergarten was completed in less than two years. At the end of November 2024, the facility was handed over to the tenant, the city of Bonn, and the new “operator” — Terminal for Kids. The first group of 20 children recently began attending the kindergarten.

Other options were also considered, as the facility’s premises received virtually no natural sunlight. The facility’s basement is almost entirely underground. In addition, the facility is surrounded by six-story buildings and architectural monuments, so providing insolation was, at first glance, difficult. In 2019, a study was commissioned that showed that it was still possible to organize the conditions necessary for children. To do this, two floors were demolished, and the courtyard was essentially “unsealed.”

Image source: RKW Architektur +

Work within the city limits and close to historical sites was carried out with great care. Numerous measures were also taken to deal with possible complications such as vibrations, subsidence, etc. One of the main challenges was the increase in costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, so that the project was on the verge of closure several times. As a result, the overall estimate was three times higher than originally planned.

The new building has room for a kindergarten with a total area of ​​2.4 thousand square meters, of which 1.2 thousand square meters are allocated for indoor spaces and 895 square meters for outdoor structures and playgrounds. Particular attention was paid to compliance with all childcare requirements (although there are several unnamed exceptions). Part of the former data center is now used as a rainwater reservoir. The building’s façade is made of heat-treated pressed bamboo, which increases the building’s resistance to atmospheric influences.

It is noteworthy that against the backdrop of a severe shortage of data centers around the world, other buildings and facilities are being converted into data centers. For example, in the US, it was proposed to place a data center in a former government bunker, and in Europe, a similar bunker was even used as a data center for the “darknet” segment.