The fascinating history of the main building of the University of Greifswald

The fascinating history of the main building of the University of Greifswald

On April 24, 2025, the main building of the University of Greifswald will be 275 years old. A building that not only has architectural significance, but also tells an eventful story. The new building was initiated in 1750 when the old main building, a previous building from 1591, had fallen into serious disrepair. Professor Andreas Mayer, who also became rector in 1750, saw this new building as both a structural necessity and an opportunity for self-realization.

After almost 160 years, the old building could only be repaired in a makeshift manner. After the armed conflict, urgent renovation was necessary, which ultimately led to the construction of the new main building. Today this includes the auditorium, the rectorate and central facilities that are essential for academic operations.

The construction and its use

The new main building was originally designed to combine public and private spaces. On the first floor there was a large lecture hall, which is now used as a conference room, while above was the university library, now the auditorium. In addition, there were small lecture halls, an anatomical room and a natural history cabinet on the first and second floors.

On the east and west sides there were official apartments for professors who also held private readings. The council hall, in which the rector and her secretaries work today, served as a meeting room for the professors. There were two archives in the basement that housed important documents.

The research of Dr. Elisabeth Heigl

The scientist Dr. Elisabeth Heigl has dealt intensively with the history of the main building. She made many interesting discoveries in her dissertation and during her work as a university archivist. She found one of her most notable in the accounting books, which document everyday logistical challenges, such as the cleaning of the latrines in the yard by day laborers in the winter months.

She describes the history of the new building as the economic fall from grace of the pre-modern university and addresses its multifunctional use. Heigl also discovered a curious plan from 1750: Student rooms, so-called burses, were originally supposed to be set up in the attic. This idea could no longer be realized since the 1650s due to damage to the previous building. Dr. Heigl imagines what it would be like if there were a small student dormitory in the attic of the current main building, which could be an interesting addition to the campus.

The historical development of the main building not only illustrates the structural evolution of the university, but also offers insights into the social and economic conditions of the time. The decision to build a new building, made 275 years ago, still has a lasting impact on the University of Greifswald and its students today.

Further details about the history and significance of the building are available uni-greifswald.de and campus1456.uni-greifswald.de to read.