The stunning exterior of KIT, designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, showcasing its integration with the natural landscape and sustainable design elements

1/1

PROJECTS / FACUTLY OF MATHEMATICS AT KARLSRUHE UNIVERSITY (KIT)

Architectural Upgrade of a Faculty Building

The Faculty of Mathematics building at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), originally constructed in 1964, has undergone an architectural and energy efficiency transformation led by Christoph Ingenhoven. The innovative energy concept implemented in the refurbishment has successfully reduced energy consumption by half, making the project a model for addressing the urgent need to renovate post-war German university buildings. The redesign has also significantly improved and optimized communication within the building.

Given its prominent location at the edge of the university campus, near the historic center of Karlsruhe, the building serves as a representation of the university to the city. The rectangular, five-story structure encircles an inner courtyard, which is elevated by half a story and opens to the east and west on the first floor. The courtyard also features the art installation "Family of Five Semi-Spheres" by Max Bill, which was carefully restored and reinstalled during the renovation.

To expand the usable area by 2,200 square meters, additional building volume was added atop a set-back mezzanine. The new roof is a lightweight steel structure, covered with a membrane that spans the inner courtyard. This courtyard acts as a thermal buffer, reducing energy loss in winter and keeping the interior cool during summer. The building’s interior design fosters communication, with meeting rooms for working groups and spaces for spontaneous interactions on every floor, thereby supporting collaborative research and offering ample room for individual projects and new research initiatives. The bright, daylight-filled spaces create a welcoming atmosphere that promotes focused study and research.

The first floor houses the most publicly accessible and frequently used areas of the Faculty, including tutorial and seminar rooms, group workspaces, a cafeteria, and the library. The upper floors contain faculty offices, additional seminar and meeting rooms, and project areas. The basement is home to more seminar rooms, PC labs, and part of the Faculty library.

A key focus of the renovation was the removal and replacement of hazardous materials, such as PCB-containing ceilings, formaldehyde-laden partition walls, and asbestos parapet boards. The building was also equipped with a new facade that significantly improves thermal insulation and features energy-efficient systems. Enhancements were made to maximize daylight use and introduce passive air conditioning.

In recognition of its exemplary approach to dealing with historic building substance and its architectural quality, the KIT Mathematics building was awarded the 2016 "Deutscher Hochschulbaupreis" (German University Building Prize).