Campus of the Future

New Master Plan for University Construction in North Rhine-WestphaliaFirst Step Toward the Campus of the Future

For 2026, a new stage of campus development is planned at the Duisburg campus of the University of Duisburg-Essen. Through new buildings and renovations, a “Campus of the Future” is gradually taking shape – a place where innovative teaching, internationally competitive top-level research, and modern working environments come together under ideal conditions.
 
At the same time, the university is focusing on participation: In the fall, together with the Building and Real Estate Management Authority of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (" Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (BLB NRW)"), it will invite staff and students to a town hall meeting to present the project.

The goal is clear: an interdisciplinary, interconnected campus of the future that creates synergies and offers the best conditions for the university’s internationally leading research. Construction activities will be deliberately concentrated in specific areas so that teaching, research, and campus life can continue as smoothly as possible during the building phase. “The Duisburg campus is evolving into a forward-looking location that fosters exchange across disciplinary boundaries and enables new forms of teaching, learning, research, and work,” says Ulf Richter, Chancellor of the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Forward-Looking Structure

What exactly is planned? Chancellor Ulf Richter explains: “In the coming years, a new structure will take shape on the Duisburg campus: in the south, computer science and engineering will be consolidated; at the center, the Department of Physics as well as the social sciences and business administration will be located. The north will become the cultural heart of the campus, with the library, central facilities, services, and administration. The entire university will noticeably benefit from the new buildings and renovations – and despite unavoidable challenges, the university will remain an attractive place to study, conduct research, and work.” The project is scheduled to begin with the interim relocation of the central university administration, expected in the first half of 2026.

Transparent Communication and Participation

A constant focus: UDE will involve the interests of all stakeholders and is planning comprehensive information for university members, local residents, and policymakers. Richter adds: “As a first step, we are inviting all members of the university to a town hall meeting in autumn, where we will provide information about the further course of the project.”