The glass façade in Wechloy has been modernised - and fitted with additional photovoltaic modules. Thanks to heat-insulating panes it will stay nice and cool on the ring level and in the library in summer.
Better insulated panes, additional photovoltaic systems and a structural refurbishment: the characteristic glass façade of the 40-year-old main building on the Wechloy campus of the University of Oldenburg shines in new splendour. After a good year of construction, the inauguration ceremony took place yesterday. The 1,300 square metre, predominantly glazed area around the inner courtyard and the roof in the entrance area are now back up to date in terms of structural engineering and energy efficiency.
The renovation, which began in February 2023, comprised six construction phases. The old panes were replaced with heat-insulating and insulating solar control glass. Six dormers, two roof terraces and the façade gutter were also replaced. In order to conserve resources, the original supporting structure was retained. The façade now contains 282 photovoltaic modules with a total area of around 270 square metres and a peak output of 45 kilowatts.
Climate-neutral by 2030
The energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings and the supply of renewable energy are two important building blocks on the university's path to becoming climate-neutral by 2030. With the new modules on the glass façade, the peak output of all photovoltaic systems is currently around 730 kilowatts. This corresponds to an energy yield of around 620,000 kilowatt hours per year or the average annual consumption of around 150 four-person households. The university uses the electricity generated itself. This saves around 380 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The State Construction Management Region North-West and the architectural firm B.A.C. Bau- und Anlagenconsult Bielefeld GmbH planned and carried out the refurbishment. The construction project cost a total of 3.3 million euros. The state of Lower Saxony is contributing 1.5 million euros, with the university financing the remainder from its own funds.
The university's mathematics and natural sciences centre at the Wechloy site was completed in 1984. It houses the Institutes of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, parts of the Institute of Chemistry and Marine Biology as well as numerous laboratories for research and teaching, various workshops, a library and canteen on an area of around 40,000 square metres.
