Blog Construction measures at the University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is busy constructing: new science buildings are being erected while existing buildings are undergoing renovation and new, energy-saving technologies are being installed. We’ll be publishing updates on new and ongoing projects in the BauBlog, your one-stop source for information on all the university’s construction initiatives.
22.07.2026
University and City Library refurbishes reading rooms
The reading rooms on the first and second floors of the University and City Library (USB) are undergoing extensive modernization and refurbishment. The aim is to create well-lit workspaces with large tables, power sockets and privacy screens that reduce sound, all of which should offer greater comfort and a pleasant learning atmosphere. In addition, the carpeting, lighting, and electrics will be replaced.
The project is being carried out thanks to the generous support of the University Foundation and will provide students with an attractive learning environment in future.
In order to minimize the impact on studying as far as possible, the building work will take place during the summer months, when, experience has shown, the reading rooms are used the least. The refurbishment will begin on Monday 10 August. From this date onwards, the reading rooms will remain closed for around three months.
During the refurbishment period, the USB will switch to a loan-only service. Access to the library’s collection is guaranteed at all times, and all books can be ordered and collected. Download stations will also be available for digital media, as will reading areas for reference materials.
Temporary workstations are being set up in adjacent buildings. The USB provides information on these locations and other current details here:
https://ub.uni-koeln.de/die-usb/umbau-2026
Opening hours during the refurbishment phase
- USB: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Coffee bar: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
02.07.2026
Stumbling stones return to Albertus Magnus Platz
The three stumbling stones (in German Stolpersteine), which were removed during the refurbishment of Albertus Magnus Platz (AMP), have been laid once again in front of the main entrance to the main building. The stones were carefully removed during the dismantling of the old paving and stored by the university’s Facility and Property Management Division. They are now back in their former location, directly in front of the centre of the main entrance.
The stones serve to commemorate:
Goswin Frenken (1887 – 1945) Frenken was an associate professor of Medieval Latin philology and comparative medieval literary history at the University of Cologne. He was awarded his Habilitation (post-doctoral lecturing qualification) at the university in 1922 and appointed Associate Professor in 1928. In May 1933, Goswin Frenken joined the NSDAP. Frenken was regarded as a “slightly eccentric, dedicated, unconventional scientist” and as an “apolitical loner”. As early as 1933, Frenken was denounced for “derogatory remarks about Hitler”. In November 1934, his lectureship was revoked, but it was reinstated in 1935 following a number of intercessions on his behalf. Following further critical remarks about Hitler, Frenken was arrested by the Gestapo and expelled from the party. In 1936, Frenken was acquitted in a special court case, but his authorization to teach was permanently revoked. Following further critical remarks, Goswin Frenken was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in April 1937 and even had his doctorate revoked. In 1941, Frenken was taken into custody by the Gestapo and, in July 1944, was imprisoned at Flossenbürg concentration camp, where he died or was murdered on 23 January 1945.
Bruno Zacharias Kisch (1890 - 1966) Kisch was an experimental cardiologist and physiologist, and a co-founder of the German Cardiac Society. The son of a well-established family of academics and military officers from Vienna – and a cousin of the well-known journalist and writer Egon Erwin Kisch – he was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Cologne in 1922. On the recommendation of Friedrich Moritz and Konrad Adenauer, Kisch was appointed Full Professor of Physiology at the re-established university in 1925. He gave lectures and taught courses in vegetative, chemical and pathological physiology, as well as in general biology, and stood in as a lecturer in pharmacology. In 1927, he played a key role in the founding of the German Cardiac Society, the first national association for cardiovascular medicine. Following the Nazis’ seizure of power, Kisch had his Venia Legendi (permission to teach) revoked at the end of 1935 as a result of the anti-Jewish legislation enacted by the Nazi authorities, whereupon he opened a cardiology practice in Cologne, which he was, however, forced to close as early as 1937 following the enactment of a ban on Jewish doctors practising their profession. Bruno Kisch emigrated with his family to the United States in December 1938, where he devoted himself to research using electron microscopes.
Benedikt Schmittmann (1872 – 1939) Schmittmann was a lecturer at the University of Cologne, a social scientist and an expert on social policy. After the Nazi Party seized power, he was accused of holding private religious gatherings with the aim of spreading the social teachings of the Catholic Church. In 1933, he was dragged from his flat by the SA, placed in protective custody and banned from teaching. Both the Nazis and his friend Konrad Adenauer urged him to leave Germany, but Schmittmann remained, and lived a secluded life in his house in Düsseldorf-Flehe. On 1 September 1939 he was arrested, and on 8 September 1939 taken to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. On 13 September 1939, Schmittmann was beaten to death by the SS. His widow, Ella Schmittmann, managed to have his body transported in a coffin to Düsseldorf, where he was buried at the Nordfriedhof cemetery. His parish in Cologne honours him with a commemorative plaque and a statue in the parish church of St Severin, and the City of Cologne honours him with a figure on its Town Hall tower (No. 89). His hometown, Düsseldorf, has named a street after him. The Schmittmann-Wahlen Foundation awards the two-year Benedikt and Helene Schmittmann-Wahlen doctoral fellowship at the University of Cologne.
01.06.2026
The University of Cologne lays the cornerstone for the new chemistry building
On Monday, 1 June, the cornerstone for the new buildings that house the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Institute of Chemistry and its Didactics was laid during a festive ceremony. The new building brings together research and teaching infrastructure in one location. The construction project, which will run through 2034, is one of the largest university construction projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. The buildings at the corner of Luxemburger Strasse and Greinstrasse will be home to state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities.
Professor Dr Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne, welcomed the invited guests who had gathered in the foyer of the southern building wing. He said: “With the construction of the new chemistry building, the University of Cologne is creating state-of-the-art research and working conditions, as well as optimal conditions for studying and teaching in one of our strongest research areas. In laying this cornerstone, we demonstrate both our willingness and our ability to successfully deliver large-scale scientific infrastructure projects. I would like to thank the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Cologne for supporting this project, which is so important for the development of chemistry.”
The Mayor of Cologne, Teresa De Bellis-Olinger, the Provost, Karsten Gerlof, the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Professor Dr Georg Bareth, and the Director of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Professor Dr Stephanie Kath-Schorr, delivered welcoming remarks.
The Mayor of Cologne, Teresa De Bellis-Olinger, emphasized the importance of the building for the city of Cologne: “This cornerstone marks a significant investment in Cologne’s future. The new building will lay the groundwork for strengthening research and teaching at a central location and for the long-term development of Cologne as a science hub.”
Karsten Gerlof, Provost of the University of Cologne, addressed the structural development of the natural sciences in his welcoming remark: “The renovation of the mathematics and natural sciences wing on the university campus is clearly making good progress: following the new expansion of the physics building three years ago, modern research laboratories and attractive workspaces and common areas for students and staff are now gradually being built for the chemistry department as well.”
Professor Dr Georg Bareth, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, said: “Researchers from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as the Specialist Group Mathematics and Natural Science Education help ensure that the natural sciences play a leading role in research and knowledge transfer. This new science building will facilitate an even greater exchange of ideas, which will benefit academia, industry, and society. The new Chemistry and its Didactics building has the potential to become a new hub for interaction and exchange among researchers and students on the university’s south campus.”
Professor Dr Stephanie Kath-Schorr, Director of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, explained: “In recent years, we have recruited many outstanding researchers while expanding our core strengths. This is evident in the DFG Research Training Groups RELOC and TiDE, as well as in the Humboldt Center for Nano- and Biophotonics, which together represent the full spectrum of chemistry in Cologne, from life sciences to materials science. The new building provides the shared space and research infrastructure needed to ensure that cutting-edge research and the training of the next generation go hand in hand.”
Together, the speakers packed a time capsule with documents and objects and placed it in the cornerstone, which was embedded in the floor of the foyer leading to the atrium on Greinstrasse. A concrete slab bearing the date of the cornerstone laying will cover the cornerstone. The event concluded with a reception for the guests.
The University of Cologne aims to house all functions of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry – including mathematics and science education – at a single facility. This is also intended to generate synergies, as the complex equipment infrastructure can be shared to reduce the costs associated with equipment, infrastructure, and energy. Concentrating research facilities in this way would not have been feasible due to the limited space in the old existing buildings. With a total approved construction area of approximately 25,800 square meters – nearly the size of four football fields – and a budget of nearly 400 million euros, the project is one of the largest university construction projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. The construction project will be carried out in several phases until 2034.
29.05.2026
Closure of the vehicle bypass at Albertus Magnus Platz
The first phase of construction is complete, and the square between the Arts and Humanities Building and the Lecture Hall Building is once again open to the public. The next phase of the construction project will now begin: the renovation of the bypass at the northern end of Albertus Magnus Platz.
The bypass will be completely closed to all traffic from 1 June 2026 until the end of November 2026. As part of the redesign of the square, both the bike path and the bypass in this area will be renovated. Motorized traffic approaching the university via the roundabout will be diverted via Gyrhofstrasse. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will be routed behind the Arts and Humanities Building and redirected either to the square or to the original bike path.
On the eastern side of Albertus Magnus Platz, the area in front of the Main Building will be paved and reopened immediately upon completion in order to reduce congestion. The passageway along Universitätsstrasse on the side of the Main Building will remain open to pedestrians. On the side facing the Arts and Humanities Building, access will be blocked from Gyrhofstrasse onward. This will also affect the entrances to the Arts and Humanities Building located along Universitätsstrasse. These restrictions are expected to remain in place until the end of the year.
07.04.2026
Außenbepflanzung des Studierenden Service Centers (SSC) ist erneuert
Bereits im November wurden die beiden Innenhöfe des SSC neu angelegt. Wo vorher Wildwuchs herrschte, gibt es jetzt sauber angelegte Gärten. Es ist der Auftakt für eine Generalüberholung der Außenanlagen.
Die Universität möchte ihr äußeres Erscheinungsbild verbessern. Neben der Sanierung des Albertus-Magnus-Platzes steht dabei die Neuanlage und Pflege der Grünflächen rund um den Campus im Mittelpunkt der Aufmerksamkeit. Dazu gehören auch die beiden Innenhöfe des SSC, die nun erneuert wurden. „Die beiden Innenhöfe des SSC-Gebäudes waren ursprünglich vollständig mit einer Kiesschicht bedeckt. Ansammlungen von Unrat, Unkraut und Bauschutt führten zu einem ungepflegten Erscheinungsbild“, erklärt Simon Richrath, Sachgebietsleiter in Abteilung 54. „Das musste dringend verbessert werden.“
Das Ziel der Umgestaltung war es, eine Planung umzusetzen, die sowohl den gestalterischen als auch den funktionalen Anforderungen gerecht wird, erklärt Richrath: „Ein wesentliches Planungsziel bestand darin, die Innenhöfe sowohl aus den angrenzenden Räumen als auch von der umlaufenden Galerie sichtbar und erlebbar zu machen.“ Nach intensiver Diskussion verschiedener Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten wurde entschieden, eine freie und organische Formensprache zu realisieren.
Dafür wurden die neu angelegten Pflanzflächen durch Kiesstreifen strukturiert und voneinander abgegrenzt. Insgesamt wurden rund 50 Prozent der Gesamtfläche begrünt. Für die Bepflanzung kamen überwiegend mehrjährige, wintergrüne Gräser, nämlich Seggen und Hainsimsen zum Einsatz. Diese Pflanzen gewährleisten auch in den Wintermonaten ein attraktives Erscheinungsbild und zeichnen sich durch ihre Robustheit sowie ihren geringen Pflegebedarf aus. Durch eine leichte Bodenmodellierung wurde zusätzlicher Wurzelraum geschaffen, der die Integration heimischer Gehölze, in diesem Fall der Felsenbirne, ermöglicht. Diese Gehölze fördern die Biodiversität und tragen zur Entwicklung strukturreicher Bereiche bei. Die Umsetzung der Maßnahmen erfolgte im November 2025. Nun blühen bereits die ersten Pflanzen.
10.2.2026
Felling of trees in front of the Lecture Hall Building
Three plane trees located in front of the Lecture Hall Building, between the bicycle station and the PiKa pizza truck, must be felled.
This work is necessary because two of the three trees are affected by a fungal infestation, creating a risk to traffic safety. The roots of the third tree are also causing damage to cycle paths and footpaths, leading to an increased risk that accidents may occur.
The felling work will take place between 12 to 13 February.
The felling of the three trees will be followed by replacement plantings. As on the university boulevard, the newly planted trees are common red oaks, whose roots will not affect the paths in the future, unlike the shallow-rooted plane trees. The newly planted trees should prove climate-resistant in the long term, as they can cope well with changing environmental conditions.
The felling and replanting will not only ensure the long-term safety of the cycle paths and footpaths, but will also contribute to widening them as part of the renovation of Albertus Magnus Platz. Thanks to the new planting, a guidance system for the blind can now also be established at this location. The measure will also thus be ensuring improved accessibility.
31.1.2026
Demolition of the pedestrian bridge over Luxemburger Straße
A week ago, demolition work began on the pedestrian bridge that spans Luxemburger Straße between Greinstraße and the Higher Regional Court. On Monday morning, 26 January, the KVB overhead lines were dismantled from the middle bridge segment and placed on masts to ensure that Line 18 can continue to run without obstruction. The middle section of the bridge was then removed with a crane. Only the pedestrian ramps to the KVB station and the roadside connections remain now. Demolition of the remaining parts of the bridge will begin on Saturday, 31 January. For this purpose, Luxemburger Straße will be fully closed (cars, bicycles, pedestrians) in the outbound direction between 6.00 a.m. on Saturday and 6.00 p.m. on Sunday. Overall, the work on site will continue until shortly before the start of the carnival.
The bridge no longer meets today’s accessibility requirements and is located in part on the construction site for the university’s new chemistry building. The ramp to the bridge was already demolished in 2024 to clear the construction site for the new building. Once the City of Cologne has constructed a level crossing, it will then be possible to cross Luxemburger Straße at this point without barriers.
The new chemistry building complex will provide state-of-the-art study, research, and working conditions. It will also make a significant contribution to improving the university’s energy and climate balance through modern building technology.
8.1.2026
The University of Cologne and medfacilities found UniSpaces GmbH
The university has founded a subsidiary together with medfacilities GmbH: UniSpaces GmbH. UniSpaces is to take on selected construction projects from the university’s Facility and Property Management Division and realize these.
The university is currently preparing a new ‘Masterplan 2040’ for its construction projects, due to be finalized by the end of 2026. The aim is to build more quickly overall because each delay costs money and throws subsequent projects off schedule. However, there is often a lack of staff and project management capacity: civil engineers, architects, and project managers are in demand. The limited number of applicants in this field are eagerly sought by the substantial number of employers, meaning that the public sector often loses out in the competition for qualified professionals. To establish a further means of support in this area, the university has founded a subsidiary company that can take on numerous construction responsibilities on its behalf.
Working with an experienced partner
The university has chosen medfacilities GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of University Hospital Cologne, as its partner for this project. medfacilities GmbH has been in existence for two decades and successfully realizes the construction projects of University Hospital Cologne. The university holds 75.1 per cent and medfacilities GmbH 24.9 per cent of ‘UniSpaces GmbH’.
The aim of the foundation is to permanently relieve the staff shortages that have arisen at the university and to accelerate project realization. The construction duties to be performed will include project management, project control, consulting services in the context of construction projects, and the procurement of planning and construction services in accordance with public procurement law. The management of UniSpaces will consist of two representatives from the university (Christian Wagner, Thorsten Hildebrand) and one from medfacilities (Axel Stephan). The university’s construction division (Division 5 Facility and Property Management) will continue to take on the majority of upcoming construction and renovation projects despite the founding of UniSpaces.
Customized structural solutions
Unlike most universities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, whose buildings are largely constructed by BLB NRW (building and real estate management North Rhine-Westphalia), the University of Cologne constructs its own buildings on the basis of a regularly updated ‘Masterplan’ for construction projects. The previous Masterplan 2030 will be updated to a Masterplan 2040 over the course of the year. In addition to this strategic construction planning, however, it is equally important that the university, through its role as the building owner, also has the opportunity to implement customized designs working closely in coordination with the users of the properties. Close communication with the university’s specialist departments and reliable handling of construction projects is also important because new research areas often call for flexible construction solutions. And last but not least, a substantial number of the university’s buildings are more than 50 years old, meaning that plenty of renovation projects are on the agenda.
The Rector of the University of Cologne, Professor Joybrato Mukherjee, comments on the founding of UniSpaces GmbH: “With the foundation of UniSpaces, the upcoming construction projects of the university’s Masterplan 2040 can now be completed more quickly than was previously possible. We have thus established a means to manage future projects that will contribute to the development of Cologne as a science hub on a broader basis. I would like to thank the representatives of medfacilities and the university’s administration for their dedicated collaboration in the founding of UniSpaces GmbH. The foundation and development of the company were completed within three quarters of the year.”
Karsten Gerlof, Chancellor of the University of Cologne, says: “Many buildings are in need of renewal, not only at the university. We needed more capacity and new approaches in order to fulfil the renovation requirements and the demands of modern research and teaching. In medfacilities GmbH, we have now found a partner that has been successfully managing the structural development of the medical campus for a long time. We look forward to working together with our partners at medfacilities.”
“This partnership opens up strategically important perspectives for us,” says medfacilities Managing Director Professor Dr Peter Heinen. “We are diversifying our client base to leverage our expertise in public construction and establish ourselves more broadly.” Carsten Niemeyer, also Managing director, adds: “At the same time, we are creating new development opportunities for our team and additional capacities in all areas of the medfacilities Group. We are grateful for the trust that the university is placing in us and look forward to the new tasks ahead.”
6.10.2025
Albertus Magnus Platz: Relocation of the construction site
The first section — the lower level of the square — will soon be completed and reopened to the public. This means that the construction site will be relocated.
The western section of Albertus Magnus Platz, directly adjacent to the Arts and Humanities building (Philosophikum), will be paved with greywacke by 13 October. This means that the construction site currently located there will be removed, making this part of the square accessible again. The corresponding doors of the Arts and Humanities building will also be accessible again. As a result, the construction site will be moved closer to the main building. Part of the bike path on the so-called ‘Uni-Boulevard’ (where the ‘PiKa’ pizza van is located) facing the lecture hall building will be cordoned off and renovated. Access to the pizza van will remain open; direct access from the main building to the lecture hall building and the university boulevard will be cordoned off. The path from the main building to the lecture hall building will run along the Arts and Humanities building via the stairs around the construction site. Barrier-free access is possible through the Arts and Humanities building. The underground car park and the catering facilities in the pavilion will still be accessible. The barrier is expected to remain in place for four weeks before being lifted again.
There is also an update on the current construction work: The construction companies are preparing the raised beds and will deliver the planned trees on 7 October and the perennials on 9 October. This will make the new design of this construction phase visible. Meanwhile, the renovation of the bridge will begin and construction work will move to the upper level of the square.
15.10.2025
Illegally parked vehicles will be towed to make more parking space available at the university
To improve the confusing parking situation in the University of Cologne’s car parks, the Parking Management has concluded a long-term contract with a towing company. The aim is to create more space for authorized users: In future, parking offenders will be regularly towed away for a fee.
From 1 November, vehicles will be towed away immediately if they are
- parked in designated university car parks without a valid parking ticket or permit,
- blocking fire brigade access routes,
- parked in restricted areas, or
- parked outside of marked parking spaces.
This also applies to vehicles belonging to employees or students – for example, if a parking permit is not clearly displayed in the windscreen, or if access routes for emergency services are obstructed. The measure serves to ensure safety and order on campus.
Where will vehicles be towed from?
Various parking areas across campus are affected, including
- Campus Nord (around the Faculty of Human Sciences, Gronewaldstrasse, Frangenheimstrasse, Herbert-Lewin-Strasse),
- Klosterstraße,
- central area (Gyrhofstraße / corner of Universitätsstrasse and corner of Gymnicher Strasse / Kerpener Strasse),
- Unisport car park and Sibille-Hartmann-Strasse.
Please note the different inspection times depending on the area, for example: Campus Nord: Mon–Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Central area: Mon–Fri 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Outside of these times, parking is free in many areas. However, no-parking zones, such as emergency service access roads, are monitored around the clock.
Further information
A detailed overview of the parking areas and information on the towing service, including any towing fees, can be found on the website of the Parking Management (Division 5 Facility and Property Management): https://verwaltung.uni-koeln.de/parken
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Parking Management.
15.08.2025
Martin Pfeifle: art on campus
The sculpture “revisited” by artist Martin Pfeifle has now been installed on Albertus-Magnus-Platz. Assembly workers positioned the three elements of the sculpture next to the pavilion above the bicycle garage, located between the lecture hall building and the Arts and Humanities building (Philosophikum). The work was completed in the afternoon.
The new artwork “revisited” consists of layered panel elements that reference the still partially preserved floor mosaic by Jürgen Hans Grümmer, situated directly in front of the main building. The object was cast in bronze and is divided into three separate elements. As an object in public space, the sculpture invites passers-by to engage with it and to explore.
In addition to his sculptures in public spaces, the artist Martin Pfeifle is also known for his installations in museums. The interaction between viewer and artwork is a central theme in his work, both in his sculptures and museum installations. Positioned at the heart of Albertus-Magnus-Platz, Pfeifle designed the sculpture not only to spark interaction, but also to harmonize with the surrounding buildings, trees, and other artworks.
Martin Pfeifle studied at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf from 1998 to 2004 under Tony Cragg and Hubert Kiecol, later becoming a master student of Kiecol. Since February 2021, Pfeifle has been Professor of Body-Room-Structure at the Design Department at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. His works have been shown internationally, and his outdoor sculptures can be found in numerous German cities, including Heidelberg, Nuremberg, and Düsseldorf.
8 August 2025
Renovation of Albertus-Magnus-Platz: Material from the quarries
The University of Cologne is renovating Albertus-Magnus-Platz from 2025 to 2026. Initial preparations are now being made to produce the greywacke paving. The stone is resistant to mechanical stress, water and frost and has been used in cities in the Rhineland, including Cologne, for some time. As a material from the quarries of the Rhenish Slate Mountains, it has a better carbon footprint than other surface materials and will continue to be available in the future. The sedimentary rock offers a range of natural colours that blend in with the existing buildings. The stone quarried in the quarries is currently being cut to size for the first section of paving at the Philosophikum.
21 July 2025
More workspaces for students
More workspaces for students in the Physics Department, the Arts and Humanities building and the IBW: the University of Cologne is equipping two buildings with more workspaces for studying, with a third to follow by the end of the year.
Since August 2023, the university’s Facility and Property Management Division (Division 5) has equipped two further buildings with additional or new study- and workspaces for students. So far, over 90 new stations have been created: 32 in the IBW building on Herbert-Lewin-Strasse and 60 in the Arts and Humanities building (Philosophikum). The expansion of workspaces is part of an ongoing university initiative launched in 2022 with the creation of 30 stations in the library at the Cologne Biocenter.Since April 2025, around 35 additional workspaces have been available in the new seminar building on the main campus.
This development was prompted in the summer of 2023, when student representatives expressed the need for more workspaces in university buildings. The request was passed on to the Facility and Property Management Division by the chancellor. In a subsequent feasibility study, suitable spaces in the foyers of the buildings were identified, followed by fire safety and heritage protection inspections. Following the inspections, three buildings were selected: building 211 (IBW), building 103 (Philosophikum), and building 321 (Physics). The chosen furniture meets requirements for fire protection, safety, comfort, and integration with the surrounding architecture: the benches, chairs, and tables blend in with the architecture of the buildings. For example, the materials used for the study areas in the Philosophikum harmonize with the existing interior design.
They are located on the ground floor and on the first, second, and third floors of the Philosophikum. In the IBW building, the new furniture can be found on the first and second floors between the lecture halls. Division 5 will redesign a total of 50 study workspaces in the foyer of the Physics buildung. These will feature different seating options, including high tables, an upholstered long bench with bistro tables, and two meeting modules for focussed work. Due to heritage protection and fire safety regulations, no power outlets could be installed in the IBW; in the Philosophikum, however, some were installed. The new individual workspaces in the Physics Department will also be equipped with power sockets.
30 June 2025
New solar systems coming soon
The University of Cologne is continuing to implement its sustainability strategy: a photovoltaic (PV) system will be installed on the roofs of the new physics laboratory building and the former COPT building on Luxemburger Strasse.
Not only will the sun be shining on the roof of the laboratory building of the institutes of physics, it will also ensure that electricity is flowing from the sockets inside. The company Vopro GmbH has just installed the last modules of the photovoltaic system. Now the system just needs to be connected to the power supply. The 224 modules there will have an output of 100 kWp (kilowatt peak) and will generate 90,000 kWh/a of electricity per year about 20 times as much as a family of four consumes on average per year. The system costs around 105,000 euros (gross) and is scheduled to go into operation during the summer.
A second PV system on the roof of the former COPT building (Building 315) on Luxemburger Strasse will cost 80,000 euros and generate around 68,400 kWh/a of electricity per year with an output of 76 kilowatt peak. The plant with 172 modules will also go into operation during the summer.
By gradually replacing fossil fuel-based electricity sources, the university is achieving one of its key sustainability goals: to reduce CO2 and switch to climate-neutral options on campus.
With the new systems due to be erected on the buildings of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the university's use of self-generated electricity will increase once again compared to the system on the Philosophikum building: A medium-voltage ring will allow the residual electricity to be fed into the local grid, enabling the other buildings in the Faculty to benefit directly from solar power and increasing the degree of self-sufficiency of the power supply.
The photovoltaic system destined for the roof of the former COPT building on the corner of Eifelwall and Luxemburger Strasse will be powering something special in future: At the suggestion of the researchers, a nitrogen generator was installed in May to produce nitrogen locally for research purposes. For the first time, research undertaken at the university will have the direct benefit of sustainable electricity generation.
20 June 2025
Albertus-Magnus-Platz – new and improved
The renovation of Albertus-Magnus-Platz is in full swing. What are the plans and when will construction be completed?
Albertus-Magnus-Platz has been undergoing renovation for about a month now. The renovation work will cover the university square between the Arts and Humanities building (Philosophikum) and the main building, including the area directly above Universitätsstraße, which belongs to the city of Cologne. The university is aiming to give the central campus a cohesive feel and look, designing a space that meets all of the city's transport needs and also invites people to relax and enjoy the area. With extensive seating options and additional greenery in raised beds, the square will have an inviting and modern appearance. As part of the central campus, the square is a hub for student traffic and a meeting place where people can connect with the local neighbourhood, as well as a place for conversation and learning. The construction work is therefore also aimed at improving the quality of experience throughout the entire space. The city’s bridge construction, on which a part of the Albertus Magnus Platz rests, will also be reinforced and sealed in the course of the work. The work on the square became necessary following the construction of a bicycle garage and the restructuring of the adjacent areas in 2021.
Work already underway on the west side
Construction work began last week with the closure of an area to the west of the square, directly in front of the Arts and Humanities building. The work on the part of the square between the Arts and Humanities building and the lecture hall is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. During the second construction phase, the bridge deck over Universitätsstraße will be replaced and extended as far as the main building. The square will be built on two levels: a lower level at the western end in front of the Arts and Humanities building, and an upper level covering the rest of the square. A broad ramp stairway will bridge the difference in height between the two levels of the square. An accessibility ramp will also lead to the lower level in front of the Arts and Humanities building on the southern side of the square, and a further set of stairs will be connected to the ground-level guidance system. The architectural firm Studiogrüngrau was the mastermind behind the square’s new design. Around 9,500 square metres of the central campus square will be paved with greywacke, a hard sandstone. The natural stone is ideal for high-traffic areas as it is frost-resistant, slip-resistant and easy to maintain and clean. It has also been used in various locations in Cologne.
A place to relax and enjoy
The underground bicycle garage has already been completed and integrated into Albertus-Magnus-Platz; construction of the area above it is now underway. The existing pavilion at the garage entrance is also part of the design, and the university has partnered with two small businesses to provide catering services for students and faculty members. The new artwork by Martin Pfeifle and the two spacious raised flowerbeds will provide additional seating areas where visitors can relax and enjoy the surroundings. Multi-stemmed trees with wide crowns have been selected to create an appealing green space, offering a shady spot for conversation in summer. These trees will be underplanted with perennials, grasses and sustainable tree species.
In addition to the recently refurbished sections of the University Boulevard, the western side of Universitätsstraße, adjacent to the square, will also be remodelled. The design will also incorporate a section of the bypass road at the northern end of the square, which will be paved with coloured asphalt to match the greywacke. New boundary lines will make the cycle paths visible across the entire square.
What changes can be expected?
Benches with high backs are planned for the bridge railings to the north and south of the square. These will also function as noise barriers. The parking spaces on the northern bend will be removed to make room for this. During the construction work, construction lorries are expected to enter the square, and there will be a traffic light to regulate pedestrian traffic. To minimise disruption to learning and research during this period, only certain, specific parts of the square will be closed off at a time. Bicycles can therefore no longer be chained to the site fence. Construction times will also account for examination phases. Information regarding any barriers and obstructions that may affect users of the square will be communicated in good time via social media and by expresso.