Jena, March 4, 2026. Friedrich Schiller University Jena is receiving a new communication and meeting center. Today, the foundation stone for the million-euro project in the city center was laid.
- Event: Foundation stone laying for the university’s new „Forum“
- Location: Between the Uni-Hauptgebäude and the Griesbachscher Anbau
- Sponsor: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
- Investment amount: Around 20 million euros
Million-euro investment for academic exchange
The university’s new Forum is taking concrete shape. With the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone, the visible structural work of the modern building begins. The new building fills an urban gap in the historic campus area and is intended to serve as a central meeting point for students, teachers, and guests of the university in the future.
Thanks to the financial support of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, which is investing around 20 million euros in the project, a state-of-the-art building complex is being created. This is intended not only to be architecturally appealing but, above all, to offer open spaces for interdisciplinary exchange.
Background: Historical area in transition
The location of the new Forum is of high historical significance. It is being built exactly between the representative Uni-Hauptgebäude, constructed in the early 20th century, and the so-called Griesbachscher Anbau. Johann Jakob Griesbach, an important theologian of the Goethe era, worked here. The new building must therefore master an architectural balancing act between these historical, partly listed buildings and modern, energy-efficient standards.
For Jena’s city center, the construction phase means temporary logistical challenges. As the campus directly borders heavily frequented areas, the delivery of heavy equipment and construction materials requires precise coordination. The goal is to minimize disruption to student life and pedestrian traffic. After completion, however, the Forum will significantly enhance the university quarter in the heart of Jena and improve the quality of stay.
Source:
Foundation stone laid for new Forum of Uni Jena | MDR.DE
Transparency note: This article was automatically created, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.