The city of Konstanz and the University of Konstanz are planning the further development of the university campus: On 27 January 2022, the Konstanz city council agreed on a new development plan for our university. This new plan amends the existing development plan from 1969 with the aim of creating development potential for the next four decades.
Compare the areas of the old and the new development plan.
Click on the image to change from the old to the new plan and vice versa
In the following, you will find the most important dates regarding the development planning process.
FAQ
Why does the University of Konstanz need a new development plan?
Since its foundation in 1966, the University of Konstanz has continuously developed further. The campus, originally intended for 3,000 students, is currently being used by over 13,000 people. In addition to the currently used 120,000 square metres of the campus area, the university expects that it will need another 55,000 square metres by 2060. This extension will provide the basis for realizing key future-oriented, scientific projects in Konstanz, for example, large-scale and profile-building projects within the framework of the Excellence Strategy, new Collaborative Research Centres and other collaborative research projects, research projects requiring specialized infrastructure as well as infrastructural framework conditions for modern teaching.
The university has nearly reached the limit of its spacial development potential – set by its development plan from the year 1969. To ensure that the university’s future development is not restricted by spatial limitations, the planning process for further amending the development plan has long been underway.
Since the development planning process and required assessments (especially in the areas of nature and monument conservation, transportation and traffic etc.) are very time-consuming, the involved parties have made sure to take a long-term view when updating the university’s development plan. The process, initiated by the city of Konstanz in 2011, is designed to provide the university with a structural development timeframe until the year 2060. This not only represents development potential for science and research, but it is also a central innovation factor for the Lake Constance region and the University of Konstanz, the largest employer in the city of Konstanz. The university expects that its structural development will create the conditions for both expanding its leading international role in science and research, and further strengthening Konstanz as a business location in the coming decades.
Which campus areas are affected?
The development planning process was first and foremost about long-term land-use planning and determined where the university campus can be expanded in the coming decades. The city of Konstanz provided the university access to corresponding areas. This process is based on the master plan part 1 and part 2 (city development concept) and the required environmental protection assessments.
The university aims to utilize these areas in the next four decades to realize future-oriented, key scientific projects in Konstanz. These include, for example, large-scale and profile-building projects within the framework of the Excellence Strategy, new Collaborative Research Centres and other collaborative research projects, research projects requiring specialized infrastructure as well as infrastructural framework conditions for modern teaching. This further development of the university – in terms of both its overall profile and physical state – will equally contribute to the development of the city of Konstanz and the creation of new jobs.
Three construction phases
According to the master plan, construction will be carried out in three phases on the west side of campus. The first construction phase is designated for the area around the W building where the university’s Scientific Engineering Services are located. The second construction phase will involve the area of car park "P-Nord". In the third phase, construction will involve the area of car park "P-Süd". Further development may take place in the direction of the university heating plant. These areas were identified in the master plan process in accordance with the required environmental protection assessments. It was very important that human encroachment into the natural environment on the Gie?berg would be limited to the absolute minimum. To this end, most of the relevant areas to be developed belong to the aforementioned parking areas. These have, of course, already been asphalted or developed, which means much of the future construction will take place on already developed surfaces.
Motor vehicle access and car-free campus plaza
The master plan also calls for a modified bus route through campus in order to both connect the new university buildings to public transportation and to reduce traffic along the main access route to the university. A car-free campus area will be created in front of the main university entrance (between buildings W, R, V and A). In the autumn of 2019, a mobility concept was formulated for improved transport to and from the university as well as traffic management on campus. This mobility concept forms the basis for a new parking concept, which will, among other things, create new parking areas to replace those where construction in phases 2 and 3 will take place.
Who was involved in the development planning process?
The city of Konstanz was in charge of the development planning process. The planning was carried out by the Konstanz office of Verm?gen und Bau Baden-Württemberg (the university buildings are state property), and the planning office LandschaftsArchitekten Bittkau-Bartfelder + Ingenieure GbR (Wiesbaden) in close cooperation with the University of Konstanz. Nature conservation associations, municipal institutions and other public bodies were involved in the development planning process from the very beginning. The public participation process provided all citizens the opportunity to participate and contribute to the draft development plan.
Additional involved were, among others, the following associations, institutions and other public bodies:
- German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND)
- Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)
- Regierungspr?sidium Freiburg (regional authority) [nature conservation, forestry, regional planning]
- Landratsamt Konstanz (district administration office) [forestry, nature conservation, water rights, trade supervision, district archaeology]
- Preservation of state monuments
- Stadtwerke Konstanz (energy grid, public bus service)
- Konstanz waste management services
- Konstanz police department
- Konstanz fire department
- Handwerkskammer Konstanz (Chamber of Skilled Crafts)
- Chamber of Industry and Commerce Hochrhein-Bodensee (IHK)
- Wirtschaftsf?rderung Konstanz (city commerce development)
Are new parking concepts being planned?
The new development plan addresses the current north and south parking areas. The master plan and the preceding environmental assessments identified these locations as significant future development areas for the university. After the first construction phase on the area near building W is completed, the second construction phase will begin on the north parking lot area. The third construction phase is designated for the area where the multi-storey south parking lot is currently located.
New parking areas will be created to replace these parking lots. With the new mobility concept, a new parking concept, too, is being designed. Several options are currently being considered: The master plan proposes the parking lots as construction sites, with parking areas in the lowest floor of the new buildings (which the sloping terrain would support). Other options include, for example, a park and ride concept. The future parking concept will be presented together with the development concept for the current parking areas. We will keep you updated on these and all further plans in a timely manner.
Please note: The University of Konstanz would like to provide incentives for environmentally friendly, car-free travel and will continue to develop concepts for alternative transportation options. At the same time, sufficient car parking space will also be taken into account.
Conservation and sustainability
Our campus is surrounded by nature, and it will stay that way. Conservation and sustainability are of central importance to us.
From the very beginning, conservation associations were involved in the development planning process at the university. Special attention was paid to the nature reserves surrounding the university, as they are in the vicinity of the planned new building sites. The campus is located next to the Lorettowald (forest), Hockgraben (green meadows) and Universit?tswald (forest). These areas are subject to different protection levels, which have determined the framework conditions for the development planning process. Local flora and fauna were assessed early on in the process. On this basis, a map was drawn up illustrating the possible development areas and their potential impact on environmental and species protection.
The primary aim is to limit human encroachment into the natural environment as much as possible. Most of the relevant areas to be developed have already been asphalted or developed, including the car parks "P-Nord" and "P-Süd".
Where it is not possible to use already developed areas, ecological compensation measures are taken. This includes, among other things, the removal of roads that are no longer needed, creating green spaces and green roofs as well as planting trees and shrubs.
An area reserved for pedestrians/bicycles will be created in the central access area of the campus. The southern part of the bus loop, where cars used to drive, will be removed to make way for a green campus plaza for future generations of researchers to meet.
Generally: We renovate buildings before new construction takes place. Building X will provide space for lecture halls, seminar rooms and offices while those in existing buildings are being renovated. This way we can complete renovations without having to restrict teaching and research. The (energetic) renovation of existing buildings is an important measure for achieving the climate neutrality of our university. The energy and climate protection concept for state property provides the guideline for all construction work organized by "Verm?gen und Bau Baden-Württemberg" (Konstanz office).
Sustainability is a key factor in the operation of university buildings. University roofs have been and are being equipped with photovoltaic systems or turned into green roofs. To cool buildings and large-scale equipment, we use water from Lake Constance. In addition to that, the university has its own very efficient heat and power plant.
Furthermore, we are continually identifying additional energy-saving potential and implementing corresponding measures. The goal is to save as much energy as possible while affecting university operations as little as possible.
Facts and figures
- New development plan for further development of the University of Konstanz campus (until 2060), agreed upon on 27 January by the Konstanz city council.
- Amendment of the old development plan from 1969.
- Additional space requirement by 2060 is approx. 55,000 square metres (with existing space of approx. 120,000 square metres).
- Master plan foresees three construction phases: First phase in the area near building W. Second phase on the current north parking lot. Third phase in the area of the multi-storey south parking lot.