The ALEA SCHOOL is thriving: At the big kick-off event on October 10, school board member Henning Strauss presented the architectural concept for the ALEA SCHOOL. The first 200 ALEA students will move into the Parkallee campus in the 2028/2029 school year. In this interview, he talks about his dream of the Orber Palmengarten, the spa district as a lively center – and the doubling of parking capacity in Kurparkstraße.
The spa district is blossoming and is already attracting many visitors – how will the ALEA SCHOOL turn the park into a lively center?
The ALEA SCHOOL will give our spa district a further growth boost in the spirit of the federal government’s “Living Centers” initiative. Our boomtown is to renew itself from the spa district as a nucleus, so to speak. The ALEA will be a place where children laugh and learn – surrounded by greenery, with the wonders of flora and fauna right outside the classroom window and the woodpecker forest close by for excursions. The park district offers recreational and leisure areas for young families, health facilities and dynamic culinary concepts: I can’t think of a better place for a school.
Mr. Strauss, you are known to be a botany fan and park lover. How green will the ALEA SCHOOL campus be?
I’ve been dreaming of an Orber palm garden for a long time. I want to make it a reality at the school: We are planning a palm tree auditorium and a palm tree courtyard in the center of the Parkallee campus. There will also be green roof terraces and the large glass façades will bring the surrounding botany into the classroom, so to speak. We see the ALEA SCHOOL as an extension of the park. ALEA has a green signature – which will also be reflected in the school. And who knows: maybe one day the ALEA SCHOOL will even have an orangery and a butterfly house…
Surprisingly, the school will improve the parking situation in Kurparkstraße. The ALEA SCHOOL will also become a place for encounters, art and culture. What will this look like in detail?
The underground parking garage is open to the public at weekends. With more than 60 parking spaces, we are doubling the parking capacity in Kurparkstraße. During the week, the traffic flow is discreetly resolved by the intelligent internal delivery and collection zone. And we also have good news for spa guests and the people of Bad Orber themselves: the high-quality canteen will also be open for events from time to time – adding another restaurant to ALEA’s culinary offering. It is also conceivable that the premises – such as the Palmenaula – could be made available for cultural events such as theater and concerts.
ALEA PARK, ALEA RESORT, BOTANICA, TAPATA, BALNOVA: you have launched numerous infrastructure projects. When did the idea for the ALEA SCHOOL come about?
The first season of ALEA PARK was a complete success. I was delighted to see so many families strolling around the park, eating ice cream, playing and having a picnic – a very fresh spirit in Bad Orb! When discussions with Margarethenhof about possible changes to the location revealed the prospects, the brainwave came: “The laughing children are so good for our spa district – a small school would be perfect here! Together with the surrounding vacant space, the area around the Margarethenhof is the ideal location for the ALEA SCHOOL.
In principle, anyone can apply for a scholarship. The award committee will take various criteria into account when selecting the scholarship holders: First and foremost, the economic eligibility of an applicant family. This is based on the average household income (approx. €70,000) in the Main-Kinzig district and the applicant confirms that they have a lower household income. Voluntary commitment, special achievements or a particularly convincing application are also taken into account.
When applying for a scholarship, applicants must provide basic information, a letter of motivation and a letter of recommendation from a (class) teacher. After submission, the awarding committee will review the application and contact the applicants regarding the next steps.
At the present moment, two scholarship programs have already been confirmed.
Further scholarship programs are currently being developed.
There will be both full and partial scholarships. Depending on the type of scholarship, either all or part of the school fees will be covered by the scholarship. Both scholarship models cover tuition fees up to the 10th grade to the extent indicated.