SKA Darmstadt takes over sponsorship – opening planned for August
A new youth center for Darmstadt's city center is currently under construction on Luisenstraße. The Socially Critical Working Group Darmstadt e.V. (SKA Darmstadt e.V.) has been the sponsoring organization since May 2026. The official opening of the City Youth Center is planned for mid-August.
The operating contract was previously tendered and awarded through a formal procurement process. The organization is currently in its start-up phase. In addition to preparing the premises, the social worker positions are currently being filled.
Mobile offers available even before the opening
Even before the start of regular operations, SKA Darmstadt eV will be present in the city center with mobile services. The aim is to get to know young people, build contacts and offer initial opportunities for participation.
Plans include outdoor activities such as Spikeball or Viking chess in public spaces like Georg-Büchner-Platz or Friedensplatz. Furthermore, discussions will be held with young people to incorporate their interests and wishes into the work of the new youth center from an early stage.
Art project and first insights into the youth center
Even before the official opening, an externally supervised art project is planned. The resulting works will be exhibited in the youth center. This will give young people the opportunity to become familiar with the new premises early on and to make initial contact with the team.
A consumption-free meeting place for young people
Mayor Barbara Akdeniz sees the new offering as an important building block for youth work in the city center.
“I am very pleased that we have managed to establish a new youth center in the city center so quickly after the Evangelical Deanery of Darmstadt terminated the operating contract for the youth center ‘huette’. The City Youth Center will be an easily accessible point of contact in Darmstadt’s city center, where many young people congregate and where there is a great need for consumption-free spaces for young people,” explains Akdeniz.
Support with site selection
The youth welfare office was supported in its search for suitable premises by the Retail Space and Neighborhood Management (LQM). This program was established by the City of Darmstadt and Darmstadt Marketing GmbH and is intended to contribute to the revitalization of the city center in the future.
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasizes the importance of the project for the development of the city center. Despite the expiration of federal funding, the work of the retail space and neighborhood management will continue to be secured through municipal funds.
The new City Youth Center will create another meeting place for young people in Darmstadt's city center. SKA Darmstadt eV already operates the Martinsviertel Youth Center (JuMa) and brings relevant experience to this new endeavor.
