Seminar hotel Amicitia, Untermerzbach

Until 2009, Untermerzbach Castle in the Lower Franconian district of Hassberge was used by the Pallottine order as a novitiate and philosophical college. In 2010, PORR’s Schmölln branch was awarded a contract by Amicitia Untermerzbach GmbH & Co. KG to renovate the imposing castle building and construct a new hotel with 75 rooms. The entire complex, with 100 bedrooms, conference rooms and exercise facilities, is now used as a seminar hotel by the German employer’s liability insurance association Verwaltungsberufsgenossenschaft or VBG.

Extensive renovation of existing buildings

The castle’s origins date back to the 16th century. During the second half of the 18th century, the three-storey mansard hipped roof building was converted into a representative early classicist country mansion. Towering on a hill above the town of Untermerzbach, it impresses viewers from afar with its terraces and staircase as well as its unadorned façade, which is enclosed by two angled corner towers. Beneath it lies a sprawling, listed landscape park. A total of 25 hotel rooms were built in the existing castle building, as well as a modern kitchen, buffet and restaurant areas, conference rooms, a lobby and a bar. Additional conference and group meeting rooms are

located in the church, which was deconsecrated in 2009. A total of 2,800m² of gross floor area was renovated from the ground up. The parquet flooring, stucco trim and 120 wooden mullioned windows were extensively refurbished in coordination with the heritage conservation authorities. The colour and materials concept was based on the existing building and was extensively tested on samples before construction work began.

Short construction period thanks to extensive prefabrication

Within the total construction period of only ten months, the PORR team also demolished an existing dormitory from the 1960s to make way for a new five-storey building with a gross floor area of 3,500m². With 75 hotel rooms, modern conference rooms, offices and break areas, as well as exercise, sauna and sports facilities, the hotel offers conference attendees every conceivable convenience. Using prefabricated reinforced concrete hollow walls and filigree ceilings as well as prefabricated bathroom modules, the shell of the building was erected in just four months. The flat roof was constructed as an inverted roof and planted with vegetation.