Sopron's new kindergarten will soon be full of life

In October 2024, Sopron began new nursery school in Sopron could begin in October 2024, and today we can report on the topping-out ceremony. Thanks to the fast and efficient work of SWIETELSKY Magyarország Kft., the four group rooms of the nursery school will soon be ready for use.

The nursery, which will be built next to the Mosolyvár Nursery School on behalf of the Evangelical Church of Hungary, will be built on a 5082 m² site with a useful floor area of 1243 m², and its design is not only practical but also reflects the core values of the Evangelical Church. Project manager Gábor Kiss summarised the work so far for our newspaper, highlighting:

"It is a great pleasure that after the St. Michael's Church we can again build a religious facility in Sopron. I think that this project, like the previous ones, will be a very impressive building and it is a great pride that SWIETELSKY Magyarország and my name can be associated with the realisation of two facilities directly next to each other."

Could be ready by November

Sopron's new kindergarten is now structurally complete, the interior partitioning works, the roof insulation and even the basic mechanical and electrical installations have started, together with the utility construction - the project manager told us. The construction work continues with the specialist trades, and in May the aim is to install the window installations, roof insulation and shading systems, with the primary objective of achieving a leak-proof roof. The interior works can then start.

"The inauguration is expected in November this year, and the opening of the facility is expected to be at the beginning of the school year in 2026", Gábor Kiss informed.

 Prefabricated technology was also used

The foundation of the building was to have been provided by the original plans for a footing beam and reinforced concrete base, but instead the contractors ended up with a more substantial reinforced bedding, with a 30 cm reinforced concrete base slab.

"We used a mix of precast bark walls and PTH masonry as the main walls," the project manager told us.

The placement and sizing of the basic fittings in the prefabricated walls also presented a more complex design challenge due to the need to modify the electrical plans; in addition, the correct cross-sectional track and alignment of the basic cables in the suspended ceiling space had to be specified precisely for the fabrication of the walls. To support this design work, 3D BIM models were produced in contractor implementation, which greatly facilitated coordination. As noted in relation to the anticipated difficulties:

"the construction of the façade, the combined installation of the façade openings, window frames, cladding and shading, is achieved through a more serious work organisation, as the aesthetic and functional design of the nodes drawn by the architect can only be achieved through the combined and coordinated work of four professions."

Common holiday

At the inauguration ceremony, the church and state leaders responsible for the project gave speeches summing up the achievements so far and giving encouragement for the future.Balázs Raffai, the director of the Hunyadi János Evangelical Kindergarten and Primary School, emphasized:

"Buildings play an important role in our lives, providing protection and peace of mind for those who live in them. But today's focus is on the builders, because a milestone like the one we have just reached is an opportunity to appreciate the work that has been done - because even more than the house, the builder has a greater dignity. So thank you to all those who have worked to bring the construction to this point."

Farkas Ciprián, Mayor of Sopron, put value creation first:

"Everything is going according to plan, as we were last here in November, when we laid the foundation stone of the new 100-seat kindergarten in the presence of State Secretary Miklós Soltész. And at the end of April, we are pleased to report that the building has reached its highest point. Today's ceremony is another milestone in an important development for the children and families of Sopron. This investment is another excellent example of how much value can be created through cooperation and joint thinking. Value that will benefit the whole community, regardless of denomination, for decades to come."

Attila Barcza, Member of Parliament of Sopron, pointed out that the success of the project was based on the cooperation of three organisations:

"This is a beautiful and important celebration for Sopron, as the bush festival is a milestone in any construction project. It took a triple cooperation to get to this point: the local government provided the land, the government is committed to supporting the churches in Hungary, and the Lutheran Church found the best goal, which is to educate our children in the best possible conditions."

Gergely Prőhle, the national overseer of the Hungarian Evangelical Church, concluded by emphasizing the responsibility and future tasks of the local congregation:

"Years ago, in cooperation with the Hungarian government, we decided to build fifteen kindergartens, and the process is well underway. But there is also a responsibility: everything must be given substance, and we know from the Scriptures that if the Lord does not build a house, the builders labour in vain. In this sense, the church has a huge responsibility to turn dead stones into living stones. To give substance to the institutions, because the aim is to be able to speak to children and parents in a way that sustains the social role, the responsibility before God and the loving relationship with one another."