Rising expenses and time constraints make opera renovation a pressing concern
In a recent announcement, Science Minister Petra Olschowski of Germany revealed that the plans for the interim opera building in Stuttgart will undergo significant changes due to rising construction costs and the critical financial situation of municipalities and the state. The changes, described as "smaller and simpler," aim to keep costs within reasonable limits and ensure a more financially sustainable solution.
The administrative board of the Wuerttemberg State Theaters has announced revisions to the interim building plans, with a notable shift in direction that includes the exploration of using other city spaces such as rehearsal rooms. However, the specific details of these changes have yet to be disclosed.
Originally, the construction of the interim venue was scheduled from 2026 to 2029, but this timeline has been pushed back to 2028 to 2032. The Littmann building, the existing stage house for opera and ballet, will now have to remain in operation for at least four more years than originally planned, until 2033.
The minister's statement emphasized that the previously planned cost framework would not be met, and critics fear that the renovation could become another billion-dollar hole, similar to the Stuttgart 21 underground railway station. The costs for the entire project are shared between the city and the state, with an estimated one billion euros for the renovation (from 2019).
ProWST, responsible for the construction of the alternative venue, took over the planning from the city in the summer of 2024. As of now, a tender has not been issued for the most important part of the project, the renovation of the Littmann building.
The minister and Stuttgart's Mayor Frank Nopper (CDU) will jointly oversee the realization of the overall project. There have been calls for a pause and new ideas such as a scaled-down renovation program and a new building. If more precise details are required, checking official communications from the Stuttgart state government or the Ministry of Science directly would likely provide fuller explanations.
The actual general renovation of the Littmann building is expected to take ten years, with the interim building serving as a temporary replacement for about ten years. The review commissioned by the city and the state to find ways to accelerate the construction has resulted in a disappointing outcome, leaving the project in a state of flux. The exact nature of the "notable changes" and the "smaller and simpler" plans remains to be seen, but the focus on financial prudence is clear.
In the wake of the minister's announcement, there has been a shift in the business and finance aspects of the interim opera building project in Stuttgart. The administrative board of the Wuerttemberg State Theaters is exploring alternative city spaces for the construction, such as rehearsal rooms, to potentially reduce costs. Political leaders, including the minister and the city's mayor, are jointly overseeing the project, with calls for a more financially sustainable solution and even suggestions for a scaled-down renovation program or a new building. The exact changes to the plans, described as "smaller and simpler," are yet to be disclosed, but the focus on financial prudence in the general-news sphere is evident.
