Restoration in Berlin: ESMT building will revitalize cultural heritage!

Restoration in Berlin: ESMT building will revitalize cultural heritage!

The ESMT (European School of Management and Technology) in Berlin is receiving significant funding for the restoration of the former GDR State Council building on Schlossplatz thanks to the support of the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD) and the Villum Foundation. This approach is particularly aimed at the western wing of the building, which historically housed the assembly hall of the State Council and a cinema for the film censorship in the GDR. The restoration aims to preserve the building's distinctive finishes and architectural features while installing modern lecture structures that can be flexibly adapted to the needs of academic use.

The President of ESMT, Jörg Rocholl, commented positively on the significant support from the DSD and the Villum Foundation. This funding plays a crucial role in preserving an important cultural monument and reopening a part of German history to the public. The ESMT itself combines education, research and culture under one roof and thus offers a valuable interface between these areas.

Renaissance of a cultural monument

The Villum Foundation's funding was officially announced on April 17, 2025 during the DSD's 40th anniversary celebrations. Representatives of the foundation visited the construction site and emphasized the importance of the restoration. Andreas Grabsch from the DSD highlighted the international cooperation and targeted financing for the preservation of important architectural monuments. This is considered an important contribution to the protection of cultural heritage in Germany.

The State Council building, where ESMT opened its campus in 2006, was founded in 2002 by 25 leading German companies and associations. ESMT is an international management school with a clear focus on Europe. The institution's first MBA course included 30 participants from 15 different countries. An investment of 35 million euros was made to redesign the historic building.

Conversion of historical spaces

The building has been a listed building since 1903 and is not only architecturally valuable, but also historically significant. As part of the renovations, the historic rooms were redesigned so that they could be used for educational purposes. For example, the former ballroom was converted into two lecture rooms, while the former dining room was converted into an auditorium with space for 360 people.

In addition, the library was moved to the former ambassador's reception room, and the canteen was given a new look as a restaurant. Even the cinema hall on the second floor is now used for lectures. The office of former head of state Erich Honecker has been converted into a lounge area that is accessible to campus visitors. The ground floor area also offers a bookstore, a restaurant and a café, which are open to the public.

The renovation work included, among other things, the renewal of sanitary facilities and heating systems, the replacement of windows and the cleaning of the sandstone facade. There was previously a GDR bunker in the building, which has now been sealed. This bunker, equipped with red velvet curtains and a one meter wide hole, leads to a 30 meter long tunnel that ends in the courtyard. Such special features add to the uniqueness of the structure and make the restoration even more significant.

In summary, it can be said that the upcoming restoration of the building on Schlossplatz not only represents a structural renewal, but is also a cultural and historical enhancement for Berlin and beyond. Efforts to preserve cultural heritage are essential to ensure future generations have access to this valuable history. Given the challenges facing cultural heritage, sustainable preservation through systematically developed information and digital documentation is becoming increasingly important , as the DAI shows.