Meeting place, place of learning, home: Magdeburg's university campus gets a new student center
A new student center will be built on the campus of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg in the coming months. It will serve as a central meeting point for students, initiatives and university members and is another building block in the university's campus development master plan. Following approval of the building application, the ground-breaking ceremony is planned for the second quarter of 2025 and students should be able to move into the building at the end of the year. The university is relying on a non-commercial operator concept run by students.
The planned student center is to become a central meeting point on the campus at Universitätsplatz, which will enliven and shape the social and academic life of students in particular and promote intercultural integration and networking. In addition to a café and a lounge area, students will have access to multifunctional rooms for lectures, seminars, cultural events and celebrations. Sustainability also plays a major role: the two-storey building is being constructed using timber and the building materials are largely recyclable. The roof will be covered in greenery, and existing parking spaces will make way for new green areas.
More than 12,000 students from over 100 nations study at the Magdeburg University campus. With modern teaching and research buildings, spacious green areas and a steadily growing infrastructure, the campus is constantly evolving. In addition to the university library, which was completely redesigned in 2024, and the recently opened Campus Welcome Center at Uniporta, the campus offers a wide range of leisure facilities, including sports facilities and cultural activities. In addition, an energy concept is being implemented to ensure a sustainable supply of district heating.
“With the further development of our university campus, we are focusing on sustainability, community and future viability. We want to create a place that not only offers an excellent learning and research environment, but also space for exchange, encounters and intercultural networking,” says University Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. “Our underlying master plan strengthens the campus as a vibrant part of the city and as an independent university location, because a sustainable campus must meet the needs of students, academics and staff.”
The costs for the new building amount to around 1.8 million euros and are being financed from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg's budget.
Picture: Computer simulation of the construction of a new student center at the University of Magdeburg