Beneath the shadow of the magnificent Neues Palais lies a place of learning. We are standing before Universit\u00e4t Potsdam: Campus I – Am Neuen Palais. This is not just any university campus. This is a place where history and academia intertwine.
The buildings around us have witnessed centuries unfold. They stand as silent storytellers of Potsdam’s vibrant past. Let’s take a closer look at how this location evolved into the esteemed institution it is today.
Back in the time of Frederick the Great, these grounds served a very different purpose. From 1766 to 1769, the “Communs” buildings arose. These buildings initially housed the kitchen and chambers for domestic staff. At best, they were rooms for the royal cavalry. Certainly, not what you might expect for a future university.
The northern Commun even served as a guesthouse. Around 1799, guests of the king were offered a rather spartan accommodation. Two iron bedsteads, ordinary mattresses, a commode, and two stools were all they got. Later, the building became a Prussian barracks. It housed the 1st company of the royal demonstration and infantry battalion.
Fast forward to after World War II. A new chapter began as the Brandenburg State University, later known as the Karl Liebknecht College of Education, moved into these historical structures. This marked the beginning of their transformation into an educational hub.
In 1991, the college became the Universit\u00e4t Potsdam. The name of Karl Liebknecht disappeared along with the bust portraying him. Despite the name change, the legacy of education persisted.
Today, the Universit\u00e4t Potsdam’s administration, the Faculty of Arts, and the institutes of sports sciences and mathematics reside at this historic site. The university’s logo features the side of these very buildings. Its two semicircular stairs face the Neues Palais.
As you stroll through the campus, notice the chestnut grove. It graces the forecourt with a park-like charm, especially when the trees are in full bloom. Imagine walking here as students did in the past.
Let us not forget the auditorium maximum. This festive hall seats about 400 people. It was once the imperial stables, completed in 1894. Emperor William II and his horses occupied this magnificent indoor riding hall. After his exile in 1919, the space was used by the post, the police, and the military. In the 1950s, a suspended ceiling was installed. Professors and students replaced horses and riders.
The “Communs” buildings stand as a testament to change. Once anything but stately, they now host lectures and courses. The lawn is open to everyone. Today “Commun” stands less for “common” than for “jointly”.
It is remarkable how these buildings have adapted to different roles throughout history. From royal staff quarters to barracks, and finally to a place of higher learning. The Universit\u00e4t Potsdam: Campus I – Am Neuen Palais is a place where history truly lives in every stone. It is a place where the echoes of the past resonate with the aspirations of the future. This university is more than just a place of education. It is a living monument to Potsdam’s dynamic story.