The new lecture hall centre in the heart of Erlangen will further expand and strengthen the new Axis of Science between the Himbeerpalast (a former administration building of Siemens AG) and the Kollegienhaus of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). In the direct vicinity of the existing student canteen at Langemarckplatz, there is a unique opportunity to provide important functional and urban development impulses for the site and to architecturally define the centre of the university as the pivotal gathering area for the students.
In the heterogeneous environment characterised by terraced houses and single-family homes to the east, dense perimeter block developments towards the city centre to the north and larger building complexes to the south, we propose a compact building with a clear exterior geometry as a structuring element. The positioning along the western site boundary is clearly oriented towards the Axis of Science, allowing for maximum distance from the smaller-scale residential development to the east. The height differentiation supports this orientation with a high point to the west and a reduction in building height towards the southeast. The prominent high point, visible from afar, locates the lecture hall centre in the middle of the Axis of Science and emphasises its special position within the urban fabric. Unfortunately, it will only be possible to connect the lecture hall centre to the Axis of Science through a band-like open space at a later date, once the student residence Julius Wrede Heim has been demolished. The proposed institute building in the ideas section aligns its northern edge with the adjacent student canteen and forms the southern edge of the future central campus square, the Plaza of Sciences.
The architecture of the lecture hall centre is characterised by openness and transparency. The foyer, with its spacious seating stairs, is the defining element and serves as the pivotal space, the FORUM, within the building. The Plaza of Sciences in front of the foyer flows seamlessly into the building across its entire width, leading via the stairs to the multifunctional hall on the first floor, providing a spatial conclusion. All the central teaching and event rooms are arranged around the FORUM with its surrounding galleries, creating a strong spatial connection. This layout creates a flexible range of spaces for various types of events, with ample space for students to spend time.
The collections rooms of the Institutes for Pre- and Early History and Archaeology define the high point of the lecture hall centre towards the Axis of Science. They are spatially connected to the FORUM. The departmental library, as a connecting element between the two institutes, is located in close proximity to the workspaces and features its own reading garden, which is created by a recess cut into the building volume.
The structural framework is designed as a timber-concrete hybrid construction with a skeleton structure. By reducing the amount of reinforced concrete, the timber-concrete hybrid design has a better ecological footprint compared to a pure reinforced concrete structure. The remaining concrete is intended to consist of recycled materials to the greatest possible extent. A lamella façade made of recycled aluminium envelops the cubic building as a lightweight and delicate skin, providing references to the different uses inside the building through various grid patterns. For the infill panels, we propose a visible wooden cladding, which gives the building a natural appearance.