Historical landmark of the TU Dresden: Beyer Building opens after renovation!

Historical landmark of the TU Dresden: Beyer Building opens after renovation!

The Beyer Building, a historical landmark on the campus of the Technical University of Dresden (TUD), was recently officially handed over after extensive renovation and modernization. The building, which was inaugurated in 1913 according to plans by the architect Martin Dülfer, is not only one of the university's oldest buildings, but also a central teaching and research location for thousands of students in the fields of civil engineering, astronomy, geodesy and photophysics. The general renovation, which began in 2018, was necessary to centralize the Faculty of Civil Engineering and anchor the geosciences at the location. In total, the construction costs amounted to around 76.5 million euros, of which 8.2 million euros came from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 68.3 million euros from the Free State of Saxony tu-dresden.de reported.

Finance Minister Christian Piwarz emphasized the successful combination of tradition and modernity in this project. The importance of the investment for the future of research and teaching was also highlighted by Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow, who addressed the CO2 savings resulting from the renovation measures. Chancellor of the TUD, Jan Gerken, described the Beyer Building as a renovated gem and an important building for the university. Modernizations not only included the renovation of historic lecture halls, but also the creation of modern working and teaching opportunities. These include laboratories, PC pools as well as practice and seminar rooms.

Modern architecture meets historical substance

The general renovation included comprehensive fire protection measures, the renewal of the building technology as well as modern data technology and energy upgrades. Despite structural challenges, such as undersized foundations and discoveries of pollutants, the historical substance of the Beyer building was preserved. The Dresden II branch of the state-owned company Saxon Real Estate and Construction Management (SIB) provided technical support, with Falk Wihsgott, head of the building construction department at SIB, also being one of those involved. He himself studied in the Beyer building and was therefore closely connected to the project in several ways.

The redesigned southeast entrance was converted into the central main entrance, while the 41 meter high tower of the Lohrmann Observatory was also renovated. However, some external work is not yet fully completed as scaffolding is still visible, such as saechsische.de reported. Completion was originally scheduled for 2024, but the dilapidated building structure led to delays.

Educational offers and future prospects

The renovation of the Beyer Building is not only an architectural but also an educational event. Students who are interested in the Master's program in Historical Building Research and Monument Preservation are already being supported in an innovative way, although access to this program requires a first professional university degree in related disciplines. These include architecture, civil engineering, art and cultural history and many other disciplines. The language of instruction is German, although some modules are also offered in English. This provides a good basis for students to optimally prepare for the challenges in this important area of ​​monument preservation and building research tu-berlin.de.

Overall, the restoration of the Beyer Building shows how important the combination of tradition and innovation is in education and research. The TUD is thus sending a clear signal for a future-oriented university landscape in Dresden.