The energy-efficient refurbishment of the university is making progress: the ring façade around the inner courtyard on the Wechloy campus is currently being fitted with new, thermally insulated panes.
Better insulated panes, additional photovoltaic systems and structural refurbishment: the characteristic glass façade of the almost 40-year-old main building on the University of Oldenburg's Wechloy campus is being modernised. Work has now begun on the first of six construction phases to renovate the 1,300 square metre, predominantly glazed area. The construction project is being planned and carried out by the State Construction Management Region North-West and the architectural firm B.A.C. Bau- und Anlagenconsult Bielefeld GmbH. The state of Lower Saxony is covering half of the costs totalling three million euros, while the university is financing the other half from its own funds. The refurbishment is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The university's mathematics and natural sciences centre at the Wechloy site was completed in 1984 after a construction period of just under three years. 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.
The aim of the current refurbishment is to bring the façade around the inner courtyard and the roof in the entrance area up to current structural and energy standards. To this end, the old panes of the façade are being replaced with heat-insulating and insulating solar control glass. Photovoltaic modules with a total area of around 270 square metres and a peak output of 45 kilowatts will also be integrated into various sections of the façade.
Free passage for pedestrians and cyclists
The current construction work on the façade has started on the south-western part of building W04 and is progressing from there in sections around the inner courtyard to building W01. The southern side of the inner courtyard is currently closed for the construction work. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the area during the entire period. There will be restrictions within the building, for example in the library or at the seating areas on the so-called ring level, which connects all parts of the building. The work in the canteen area will take place in the summer during the lecture-free period in order to minimise disruption to university operations.
The University of Oldenburg aims to be climate-neutral by 2030. The basis for this is a climate protection concept adopted at the beginning of 2023. Important building blocks include the energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings and supplying the university with renewable energy. The number of solar modules on the university's roofs has been steadily increasing since 2017. The peak output of all installed photovoltaic systems is currently around 730 kilowatts, which 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 energy-saving measures are largely financed from the university's own funds as part of an intracting model.
