Germany’s first training center of a chamber of crafts in the passive house standard is launched in Rhineland-Palatinate

The craft campus of the Chamber of Crafts (HWK) Trier was inaugurated as part of the “Fascination Crafts” festival week. This marks the start of Germany’s first vocational training and technology center to the passive house standard.

“We are pleased about the completion of this lighthouse for crafts and vocational training in Rhineland-Palatinate and congratulate the HWK on the opening of their new educational facility,” said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt at the opening ceremony.

Five years of construction, 44 million euros in construction costs, 12.5 million euros of the HWK’s own funds, 18.5 million euros in funding from the federal government, 12.8 million euros in support from the state and the funding from the European Structural Fund ERDF contained therein. “This investment in the training and further education of the craftsmen and women of tomorrow shows the great importance of vocational training in our country. This project shows how building can work today: environmentally conscious, resource-saving, sustainable and with a holistic energy concept. That’s why I’m proud to be able to present the Trier Chamber of Crafts with the state climate protection plaque today,” explained the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister rated it as “highly innovative” that the building itself serves as a training object and that the individual work steps and construction stages can subsequently be experienced digitally using virtual reality glasses.

Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt added: “The state of Rhineland-Palatinate has consistently strengthened its support for vocational education and training in recent years. With our advancement bonuses, we are writing a success story and once again expressing our appreciation of dual training. We promote innovation and digitization. We offer trainees opportunities and very good career prospects. It is important that we continue to consistently improve the quality of training. This also includes the equipment and the offers of the training centers. With the chambers of crafts, we have strong partners at our side and I am pleased that we were able to implement this innovative craft campus together with the HWK. An appealing and modern environment motivates both trainees and teachers – I am convinced of that,” says Schmitt. The Ministry of Economics had funded the new building with over 10 million euros.

30 workshops, classrooms, conference and training rooms, 412 workshop spaces, 182 teaching spaces and a nationwide dental training center can be found on 9,700 square meters of floor space. These are available for initial professional training, for professional orientation, for professional training and further education as well as for prospective master craftsmen in eleven trades. In addition, new handicraft areas such as renewable energies and electromobility are to be promoted.

“The trade is an important pillar of the Rhineland-Palatinate economy. With the Campus Handwerk, we ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology and thus the competitiveness of the entire industry. With the “Fascination Crafts” festival week, you have managed to show interested graduates, young people and those who are looking for new perspectives the opportunities of the various trades and arouse their curiosity,” said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt.

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