“Isn’t that building cool?” the student asks, pointing towards the sleek, modern structure. That’s the Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften. It is the laboratory building for natural sciences and engineering. This building stands as a testament to Dresden’s commitment to innovation. It embodies a blend of architectural vision and scientific progress.
Completed in 2004, the Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften emerged from a design by Burger Rudacs Architekten. Their vision? To create a space where disciplines converge. The L-shaped structure houses chemistry, physics, and civil engineering departments of the HTW Dresden.
Notice how the building seems to float. The section along Schnorrstraße is elevated. This provides open passage to the courtyard behind. The heart of the Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften is its central atrium. This space extends through all floors. It is designed to facilitate the flow of movement within the building.
Inside, the experimental lecture hall sits right by the main entrance. Unlike the building’s color scheme, this hall bursts with color. The facade showcases a band design. Narrow, vertical elements are embedded in etched glass. This creates varying degrees of transparency. The Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften presents a nuanced appearance. This appearance shifts with the changing light.
The building embodies a desire for simplicity. It reflects an architectural trend of the early 2000s. Architects aimed for balance. They strived for a “Modernity of the Durable”. The Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften achieves this with its reduced, yet not simplistic, design.
The Staatsbetrieb Sächsisches Bau- und Immobilienmanagement oversaw the construction. This ensured the building met the needs of a modern research facility. The total floor space covers 8,605 square meters. The building volume reaches 33,848 cubic meters.
But the Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften isn’t the only impressive building here. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Werner-Hartmann-Bau. This building is another key part of the university’s science facilities.
Opened in October 2013, the Werner-Hartmann-Bau provides excellent infrastructure. It supports technology-focused professorships. The building is named after Prof. Werner Hartmann. He is the founder of microelectronics in Saxony. The naming ceremony occurred during the building’s key handover on December 2, 2013.
With a total usable area of 2,250 square meters, the Werner-Hartmann-Bau dedicates 1,980 square meters to laboratories. This includes specialized cleanroom environments. The involved professorships have formed the Werner-Hartmann-Zentrum. This promotes cross-institute collaboration within the new lab building and beyond.
These buildings, including the Laborgebäude für Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften, demonstrate Dresden’s dedication to science. They provide cutting-edge facilities. These are used for research and education. They foster innovation. They help solidify Dresden’s reputation as a city of science.