A campus for everybody

The Inselplatz Campus will be a place for research, teaching, meeting and communication

Inselplatz Campus

Illustration: CODE UNIQUE Architekten BDA

A modern, new university campus has been under construction on Inselplatz since March 2020. Four larger building structures will be erected in the heart of Jena. The Institute of Psychology will have its place here, as will the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, a branch library of the Thuringian University and State Library (ThULB) "Natural Sciences and Preclinical", as well as a cafeteria and the new University Computer Centre. This was preceded by a two-stage open architectural competition for the four buildings, the multi-storey car park and the outdoor facilities, jointly organised by the city and the Free State. Two Dresden-based firms, CODE UNIQUE Architekten BDA and QUERFELDEINS, prevailed among the 89 international applicants. Their award-winning design for the Inselplatz campus will now be realised.

The client is the Free State of Thuringia, represented by the State Office for Building and Transport, and the user is the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. The total volume of the buildings is around €190 million, of which the buildings of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science and the Computer Centre are co-financed with around €84 million from European Union funds within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund ("Europäischer Fonds für Regionale Entwicklung", EFRE). This makes the Inselplatz the second largest university building project in Thuringia after the Jena University Hospital.

The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone took place on 7 September 2020, and the EU-funded buildings are scheduled for completion by 2023. The other buildings will follow by 2025. A time capsule was buried on the occasion of the foundation stone laying. It contains a face mask from the University, the English edition of LICHTGEDANKEN No. 7 de "Future without Growth", a music box with the "Ode to Joy" from the city as well as daily newspapers and coins from the country.

From the model to the topping-out ceremony – the Campus Inselplatz is beginning to take shape

Graphic: CODE UNIQUE Architekten

placeholder image — Work on the construction site at Inselplatz has begun.

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Image: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

placeholder image — Representatives of the press and other media covering the topping-out ceremony for the new Inseplatz Campus.

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Image: Angelina Gallinger (Uni Jena)

On 25 April, the topping-out ceremony took place as planned – another milestone of the major construction site has been reached. Among the numerous guests were the Minister of Science Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Minister of Infrastructure Susanna Karawanskij, the Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and Hans-Karl Rippel, President of the State Office for Construction and Transport. All those present were able to see for themselves the progress of the new building and gain an impression of the future Campus Inselplatz.

Complete redesign of Jena's city centre

A special challenge is the high requirement on the energy efficiency of the buildings, because the energy conservation regulations are to be significantly undercut. For example, the heat and refrigeration supply will be supplied via 60-metre-deep geothermal probes under the building structures. In addition, the waste heat from the Computer Centre and the energy from the photovoltaic systems on the roofs are used for the energy supply of the buildings. The state and the University are thus committing themselves to sustainable and energy-saving use.

Protected courtyards, green open spaces and short distances are intended to facilitate encounters and turn the Inselplatz into an inner-city place of communication. "The new, urgently needed spaces in the city centre expand the university's possibilities for research and teaching. They also offer space for the necessary infrastructure as well as for communication and encounters. This is extremely important, because science thrives on exchange," says Prof. Dr Walter Rosenthal, President of Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Until now, the University facilities have been partially scattered and decentralised in rented office buildings in the city, which no longer meet the usage requirements. The new building will significantly improve study and research operations. But not only the University, but also the citizens of Jena are to benefit from the new campus. The new campus will completely redesign the public space of the city centre and further strengthen Jena's unique connection between University and city life.

Image: CODE UNIQUE Architekten BDA

Equipped fot the future

From modern research laboratories to cafeterias – the building facilities of the new campus.

Inside and outside perspectives

Image: CODE UNIQUE Architekten BDA

Lecture Hall Foyer of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science

The foyer of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science houses a coffee point between the lecture hall and the stairway to the seminar rooms.

Information

You can get an insight into the current construction work on the "Campus Inselplatz" via our construction site webcamExternal link. Further information is available on the website of the Thuringian State Office for Building and Transport (TLBV)External link. If you have any questions about the construction site, please contact cip@tlbv.thueringen.de.

Ministry contact (building owner)

Thüringer Landesamt für Bau und Verkehr

Hallesche Straße 15/16
99085 Erfurt

Postal address:
Postanschrift:
PF 80 03 53
99029 Erfurt

University contact (user)

Project team 'Inselplatz Campus'

Nollendorfer Straße 26
07743 Jena