Ever wondered why that orange building on Reichenhainer Straße is nicknamed “Orangerie”? The Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude stands before us. It is more than just a place of learning. It’s a vibrant hub of student life at the Chemnitz University of Technology.
Let’s delve into the story of this building. The Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude emerged between 1996 and 1998. The State Assets and Construction Office Chemnitz commissioned it. Meinhard von Gerkan designed it. The cost was 33 million D-Mark.
Commonly called “Orangerie” by students because of its bright exterior. The Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude serves a vital purpose. It provides space for lectures and seminars. There are four lecture halls and 14 seminar rooms inside. These offer a total of 2,576 seats. The largest lecture hall is called the “Auditorium Maximum.” It can accommodate 706 people.
The “Auditorium Maximum” is supported by four imposing wall panels. They face Reichenhainer Straße. The entire building has a volume of 51,766 cubic meters. Its footprint covers 8,856 square meters.
The Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude features a two-story foyer. It serves as the building’s central point. The four lecture halls extend into this foyer. A wing-shaped structure encloses the foyer on two levels. This structure houses the seminar rooms. The east and west sides of the foyer are fully glazed. They open towards Reichenhainer Straße. A steel binder construction and a metal roof cover the two lecture halls. Concrete ceilings cover the other rooms and are partially greened.
The architects used diverse materials. They used colored plaster. They also used aluminum corrugated sheets. Glass is included. These create a visually interesting facade. Inside, colored concrete, parquet, tiles, and linoleum cover the floors. The interior walls boast vibrant reds, siennas, yellows, and blues. These colors create a lively atmosphere. Niches inside the building are also colored. This design aimed to expand both the spatial and color experience.
The foyer is spacious. It encourages interaction. Seating and lounge areas invite students to relax. You can find the TU Chemnitz Unishop here. The cafeteria is run by the Chemnitz-Zwickau student services. The foyer also serves as an event space. Trade fairs and conferences are hosted here. The Chemnitz Linux Days have also been held here. The traditional Christmas lecture takes place in the Audimax. The Children’s University Chemnitz uses the Audimax. The Senior Citizens’ College uses it as well.
In front of the Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude stands a group of columns. This artwork consists of 187 steles made of fully galvanized steel tubing. They cover a ground area of 16 square meters. The top of each column is painted in a color from the printing industry’s color scale. The length of each column corresponds to the brightness value of its color. The columns represent 187 basic colors of the RAL color scale. Stefan Nestler from Dresden created the sculpture.
Between 2016 and 2017, the campus square in front of the Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude was renovated. The tram tracks on Reichenhainer Straße were also relocated. This connected the campus to the “Chemnitz Model”. This model links the campus to the Strae der Nationen and other regional cities.
The Zentrales Hörsaal- und Seminargebäude is more than a building. It is a vibrant and colorful center. It is a hub for learning and social interaction. It is a testament to innovative design. It embodies the spirit of Chemnitz University of Technology.