Jena Swimming Pools: New Management & Future Concept

(eap) Since July 2025, Bernhard Dengel has been acting as interim Managing Director of the Jena public swimming pools. The graduate sports scientist, who has around 25 years of management experience in leisure pools, thermal baths, large sauna facilities, multi-sport complexes and tourist establishments, has now been unanimously appointed by the Supervisory Board as regular Managing Director until 31 December 2028. With the appointment, the committee explicitly acknowledged Dengel’s work over the past months.

CEO Bernhard Dengel will lead Jena's swimming pools into the future in the coming years. © Matthias Sienz “With his experience in complex swimming pool structures and his clear eye for opportunities and improvements, Bernhard Dengel is exactly the right person to lead GalaxSea into its next phase of development. The past months have shown that, with his leadership skills and his in-depth understanding of the operation of modern swimming pools, he is providing the right impetus for a successful future,” said Tobias Wolfrum, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Jena.

In addition to the personnel decision, the Supervisory Board also set the course for the future of the GalaxSea leisure pool and approved a more detailed concept for the technical and energy-related refurbishment of the facility, which has been in operation for almost 25 years. The planned modernization measures, with an investment volume estimated at around 24 million euros, are intended to ensure that GalaxSea can be operated economically, efficiently and reliably in the long term. Specifically, the planned investments are set to be directed towards modern energy and building technology, efficient ventilation and water systems, accessibility, and reliable pool operations. In order to appeal to a broader audience, enhancements in various areas of the facility are also planned. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026 and will be accompanied by a temporary closure. The leisure pool is expected to reopen at the end of 2027. Further details on the concept will be announced next January. ■