Ground-breaking ceremony for new FAU building: Technical Chemistry

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) had two reasons to celebrate on 8 April - the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Technical Chemistry building and the inauguration of two lecture theatre buildings on the FAU Campus Erlangen Süd. The Bavarian Minister of Science Markus Blume and his cabinet colleague, the Bavarian Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann, came to Erlangen especially for this event.

"Things are progressing at Erlangen speed at FAU - one milestone in FAU's all-round modernisation follows the next! First the inauguration of our lecture theatre buildings, immediately followed by the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Technical Chemistry building: the Free State of Bavaria is investing more in science and research than ever before. This also and especially applies to the infrastructure at FAU - we have now broken the 1.5 billion sound barrier for new FAU construction projects. Structural modernisation is right on track. My prediction: after this unique Bavaria-wide facelift, FAU will look more radiant and modern than ever before by the end of the decade." Minister Blume also commented on the Stadt-Umland-Bahn at the meeting in Erlangen: "The Stadt-Umland-Bahn will be the region's artery of the future. It can be used to link the entire Erlangen-Nuremberg area into one large campus. The referendum on 9 June is a vote on the future prospects of the entire region."

Bavaria's Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann emphasised: "The two lecture hall buildings are an important part of FAU's comprehensive structural and strategic development and another important piece of the mosaic in the university's success story. With its sustainable timber construction, FAU has once again thought of everything that makes a building fit for the future. And this will also benefit our entire Nuremberg metropolitan region, making it even more attractive."

"The ground-breaking ceremony for the new Technical Chemistry and the inauguration of the lecture theatre buildings are important milestones for the development of FAU's location in Erlangen," says FAU President, Prof. Dr Joachim Hornegger. "Our chemistry, and thus one of our particularly strong research areas, will soon be completely concentrated on our campus in the south of Erlangen in new state-of-the-art buildings. With the fast-track lecture theatres, we were also able to complete the planned relocation of Chemistry from the centre of Erlangen. This will create the space in the city centre that we need for the construction of the new humanities centre."

World-class research infrastructure

In the west of the FAU Campus Erlangen Süd, on Immerwahrstraße, a high-tech building for Technical Chemistry will be constructed over the next few years, with the Free State of Bavaria investing a total of around 140 million euros in its construction.

Technical Chemistry, which is part of the Faculty of Engineering, is one of the top research areas at FAU. Among other things, the researchers there are working on the development of innovative catalyst systems, for example for hydrogen technologies.

The new building will provide around 5,500 square metres of floor space for state-of-the-art laboratories for research and teaching as well as offices. The project is part of the Bavarian state government's "Hightech Agenda Bayern" innovation offensive. The building is expected to be completed in 2028.

Modern teaching in a sustainable environment

The two new lecture theatre buildings on Cauerstrasse are used by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The buildings in light timber construction are twins and each house two lecture theatres with 380 and 449 seats respectively. The Free State of Bavaria has provided a total of around 22.5 million euros for this project.

The timber construction method is not only sustainable, but also made it possible to erect the urgently needed lecture theatre buildings within just one year. The two new buildings are an important part of FAU's plans for Erlangen city centre: thanks to the additional space to the south, the old organic chemistry building at Henkestraße 42 can now be demolished. The new lecture hall centre for the humanities will then be built there - and together with the Kollegienhaus and Himbeerpalast will form the new science axis in Erlangen's city centre.

The buildings have been in operation since the 2023/24 winter semester. The flat roofs are greened and equipped with photovoltaics. Seating is provided between the buildings. Practical for students: The new lecture theatres are only around 200 metres away from the canteen, library and other lecture theatres.