"An immensely important and also emotional mammoth project in difficult times," says Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel. "The 3.6 million euros that the state of Lower Saxony contributed via the municipal investment promotion program helped us enormously in the implementation. Nevertheless, the city of Salzgitter is also contributing 8.0 million euros of municipal funds to finance this major project. A wonderful joint project!"

Stephan Manke, State Secretary of the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Digitalization, was also on site. Manke emphasized that this project and the rather unbureaucratic handling is a successful example of federal, state and local authorities working together. "After all, the local authorities know best where to spend the money wisely." And it was spent wisely in the auditorium at the Fredenberg school center, as Stefan Klein, member of the state parliament, parliamentary group chairmen, council members, local mayors, school administrators and cultural workers as well as all those involved in planning and construction agreed.

Mayor Klingebiel explains: "This auditorium is so much more than a typical school auditorium. It is a school and extracurricular place of learning and, above all, it offers a stage for pupils and artists, a forum for discussion and much more, as the auditorium will be used as an event center outside of school hours. In February 2020, the council and I decided to renovate the Fredenberg auditorium first and then the auditorium of the Salzgitter-Bad grammar school as our city's second large event hall. Now, after construction delays due to the pandemic and crisis, we have successfully completed the first step with the complete refurbishment of the Fredenberg auditorium. And the most important thing is that we have not only completely renovated the Fredenberg assembly hall, but also significantly upgraded it and adapted it to the needs of its users: It was a structural challenge to achieve this in the existing building. A new modern exterior façade, an elevator to increase accessibility, an elevator for stage equipment and stage sets as well as completely new electrical, ventilation and sanitary technology are just some of the new features. The first step has therefore been taken and I would like to take this opportunity to expressly thank the politicians. Our agreement to start with the auditorium in Fredenberg, but to tackle the refurbishment of the auditorium of the grammar school in Salzgitter-Bad immediately after the project has been completed, has stood the test of time and shows the reliability of our policy - a very important sign in these fragile times!" On the basis of the project resolution passed by the council, the refurbishment of the Salzgitter-Bad secondary school auditorium will begin in the coming months.

The Fredenberg auditorium was built in 1973. The refurbishment was urgently required due to the condition of the building's technical systems, heating, ventilation, sanitary and electrical engineering. In addition, the structural and functional conditions had to be improved, as the auditorium is primarily used as an event venue in addition to being used for school purposes.