Executive Department for
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Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 2a Gebäude AVZ (Gebäudeteil AR-NA) 57068 Siegen
Phone: +49 (0)271/740-4915 Fax.: +49 (0)271/740-4911 E-Mail: presse@uni-siegen.de
A City-Side Window into the University
NRW Minister of Science Ina Brandes ceremonially opened the University of Siegen’s new Study Services Center at the heart of the Siegen city center. It will serve as a hub for current and prospective students as well as other members of the educational field.
The University of Siegen's new Study Services Center has opened its doors in the heart of the city, on the site of a former furniture store. It functions as a vital new centralized hub of services for current and prospective students, instructors, and other members of the educational field — in close proximity to the Unteres Schloss campus and the main train station. The Study Services Center is now home to the Student Services and International Office divisions, the Language Center, the Center for Academic Teaching, as well as spaces for study and seminars. The new building was officially opened in the presence of Minister for Culture and Sciences for North Rhine-Westphalia Ina Brandes.
In the words of Minister Brandes: “Our students are the skilled workers of tomorrow. To achieve excellent academic results, we need an attractive infrastructure of the kind offered by the new Study Services Center at the University of Siegen. It is an excellent example of how construction for higher educational institutions and urban development can benefit together from shared planning. Here, at the heart of the city center, a former store has been converted into an open point of contact for university students and employees. Its work benefits both the city and the university in equal measure. The new Study Services Center makes studying in Siegen even more attractive!”
“When I took on the role of rector, one of my goals was to build greater enthusiasm for our university and for Siegen as a location. The new Study Services Center is an inspired step in that process: this new building adds an attractive hub for students and other people interested in the University of Siegen. It also gives the university an even stronger presence in the Siegen city center,” declared University Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese.
“My thanks go out to all involved in the planning and implementation of this building, and especially to the ministry for the trust it showed. We successfully adhered to both the financial and timing framework for this project, showing once again that the University of Siegen is efficient and expedient in its construction work,” noted University Chancellor Ulf Richter.
The Study Service Center features a bank of large windows towards the street, inviting passers-by to look in. In a sense, it functions as a “window to the university” for all citizens. Among the major benefits offered by the new facility is its location: easy walking distance from major local public transit stops, from other and campus locations in the city center, and from the national rail station, to accommodate visitors from afar. The Study Services Center seems predestined as a hub for the stream of students walking through the lower city. The designs include study lounges (known as LEOs) that have been outfitted with a full slate of media technology.
To date, the university's service offerings were distributed around its various campuses. The new building on Sandstraße brings them all together under one roof. Potential students from Germany or abroad can research the university's offerings and seek guidance on organization their studies, as well as learn about potential studies abroad or opportunities to learn foreign languages. Instructors can take advantage of workshops and continuing professional development events to help them sharpen their skills and their resumes. The new building is also a central starting point for school classes visiting the university.
Re-purposing and sustainable use of the building
The project's overall budget ran to roughly 17.3 million euros, refinanced by the Ministry for Culture and Science (MKW) of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Extra care was taken during planning to retain the core materials of the building to the greatest degree possible to promote sustainable usage. The building features a pre-existing section directly on Sandstraße; this has been retained and reconfigured on the interior. Based on findings of hazardous materials and incompatibility with the new static requirements, the rear two wings of the building were demolished and rebuilt. Among the benefits of this approach was greater access to daylight. Construction finished in late 2023, delivering more than 2,000 square meters of usable floorspace.
