Six lecture halls stand ready to welcome students. This is the Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700. It is a central facility of Goethe University Frankfurt. The Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700 is used for the natural sciences library and as a lecture hall center. Congresses are also regularly held here.
The Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700 is at the northern access point of the campus. It is directly at the metro station “Uni Campus Riedberg”. Completed in 2011, the building was designed by Dortmund architects Gerber Architekten. The Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700 connects the S-Bahn transit station to Max-von-Laue-Straße. This road lies 3.5 meters lower.
The building is built on a slope. This design allows ground-level access from both the metro station and Max-von-Laue Straße. A two-story foyer extends over the entire length of the building. Generous windows open to the east. The foyer is the main backbone. It connects the building’s various purposes.
Visitors from the south can walk directly into the six lecture halls. These extend eastward under the walkable area on the square. Garden courtyards provide the lecture halls with light and air. This reduces the building’s visible mass. It favors a generously sized outdoor area. The area is structured by inlaid garden courtyards and broad outdoor stairways.
The cafeteria faces the campus to the south. It rises in terraces to the upper-level entrance. Bridges connect it to the eastern plaza. The library is housed in a quiet location on the first and second floors. A single-flight staircase from the northern entrance provides access.
The lecture halls are clad in natural stone. They are integrated into the plaza area. The two-story library is clad in metal panels. These continue down the entire west façade to the lowest level. An irregular perforation makes the metal façade seem semi-transparent. It appears translucent or opaque depending on the light.
The Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700 includes a large conference area. It serves the entire campus. The building covers 11.404 square meters. The Otto-Stern-Zentrum N700 is an integral part of expansion plans for Riedberg. It enhances the campus for natural sciences.