Portrait Dana Strauß
Image: Antje GildemeisterText: Sebastian Hollstein
An entirely new district is currently taking shape in the eastern part of Jena city centre. While the first offices in the large buildings on the Inselplatz Campus are already in use, construction work on the opposite side of the Löbdergraben has only just commenced. In what is currently a rather unremarkable, empty site next to the University Main Building, a new space will be created by 2028, set to become a vibrant hub connecting the city and the University—the FORUM.
The expectations for the new communications centre, the construction of which received funding of 20 million euros from the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, are high. »On the one hand, researchers will be able to gather here outside their usual working environment, engage in interdisciplinary discussions and develop ideas in an inspiring setting,« says Dr Dana Strauß, who is overseeing the planning for the FORUM as Head of the Network and Cooperation Management Office.
»On the other hand, we are establishing a new meeting place linking the city and the university that offers space for dialogue between science and society. We are currently developing programmes and testing event formats that will enable us to bring scientific content to a wider public, while also drawing inspiration for research from local residents.« The MitmachFORUM, launched in 2025, is a strong example of how the University and the wider community can be brought together.
The architectural design of the FORUM is also flexible, open and vibrant. The glass façade connects the interior and exterior, while the slatted structure facing Inselplatz, coloured to reflect the different faculties, represents the University’s diversity. The interior, covering a total area of 1,500 square metres, is characterized by its spacious communal areas: On the ground floor, visitors can attend events and exhibitions or visit the integrated restaurant in the Welcome Area and its large tiered seating area. The Science Lounge on the floor above features co-working spaces for researchers, which can be used in a variety of ways thanks to their flexible furniture layout and hybrid technology.
Transparent, open and unifying. A milestone for the University.
Dana Strauß
Similarly, in the upper conference area the rooms can be adapted to suit various group sizes and—with a hall on the top floor and an adjoining roof terrace—offer a contemporary setting for conferences. The third floor also houses a number of apartments for international guests.
The Griesbach Annex, restored in accordance with conservation guidelines and the venue for Friedrich Schiller’s famous inaugural lecture on 26 May 1789, will also form part of the new building. In the new FORUM, the restored lecture theatre on the upper floor of the annex will become an auditorium and a vibrant commemorative space. It is striking how the past, the present and the future come together in the FORUM, comments Dana Strauß. »Everything that the University of Jena stands for is embodied in this building. We want to conduct cutting-edge research, carry out interdisciplinary work, and contribute to solving the challenges of the future—and all of this in a transparent, open and unifying way.« It is with this in mind that she is very much looking forward to this new milestone in the University’s development.
