New life for the Barnim-Gymnasium: expansion ceremoniously opened!

New life for the Barnim-Gymnasium: expansion ceremoniously opened!

On September 16, 2025, a new extension building was ceremoniously opened at the Barnim-Gymnasium in Bernau near Berlin. With this measure, the Barnim district is reacting to the constantly growing number of students, which has placed particular demands on Brandenburg's largest high school, with around 1,200 students. District Administrator Daniel Kurth, school principal Henning Juergens and representatives of the State Education Authority were present at the opening ceremony.

The new extension includes a total of 19 classrooms, including six specialist rooms, normal classrooms and a new social work teacher's room. Furthermore, the cafeteria was expanded and now offers around 200 additional seats. This contributes to a significant improvement in the lunch provision for around 1,200 students who in the past had to study under difficult conditions, sometimes in containers. “The demand for the Abitur is high,” explains District Administrator Kurth, referring to the oppressive conditions and the need for expansion. Some students also reported the less than ideal learning conditions in recent years.

Sustainability and modern equipment

The new extension was built as a modular system building and is architecturally based on the neighboring Bauhaus monument. The building not only shines with its light-flooded atrium, but also with sustainable features such as a green roof and a photovoltaic system. “We attach great importance to ecological and economic sustainability,” emphasizes headmaster Juergens, who received the operating license shortly before the opening.

With an investment sum of around 15.5 million euros, the extension is not only an architectural highlight, but also a significant step towards strengthening the educational infrastructure in the district. Construction work began in July 2022 and was completed on schedule after a year and a half. The new building will be ready in time for the start of the 2025/26 school year and will further secure the capacities of the Barnim-Gymnasium.

School development in focus

Since the school location opened in 1998 as a four-class school, the Barnim-Gymnasium has undergone several expansions. Despite these adjustments, the existing capacities were often overwhelmed by the constant influx and increasing number of students. “We are pleased that we can now create better framework conditions,” says Juergens and assures that the school will continue to focus on mathematical and scientific education.

Overall, the district's efforts are aimed at proactively addressing the growing challenges in the education sector and providing students with an optimal learning environment. barnim.de reports that ... and [rbb24 highlights that ...](https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/teil/2025/09/barnim-schule-gymnasium- Extension-brandenburg-lehr-bernau.html).