University of Siegen modernizes around 150 teaching and seminar rooms

Important: The construction phases indicated are for orientation purposes only. As construction work takes place during ongoing operations, periods may change at short notice. In this case, we will inform you of any adjustments as early as possible.

ERNA stands for "Renewal of lecture hall and media technology at the University of Siegen". The project will run until 31.08.2027 and will see around 150 rooms across all campus locations renovated and modernized. The aim is to create optimal conditions for modern teaching and learning.

The measures range from new furniture, floors, ceilings and walls to acoustic improvements and state-of-the-art media technology. As a result, the University of Siegen will be able to offer sustainable learning spaces that are suitable for different didactic formats in the long term.

State-of-the-art seminar rooms and lecture halls have already been built in recent years, particularly on the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße and Unteres Schloss campuses. The refurbishment of the premises at other locations will ensure that teaching and learning at the entire University of Siegen can take place in state-of-the-art facilities - with digital infrastructure, better room acoustics, flexible furnishings and an appealing design.

• Improving the quality of learning and teaching through modern equipment
• Support for new teaching formats (hybrid teaching, group work, flexible room concepts)
• Sustainable refurbishment of infrastructure (lighting, energy efficiency, acoustics)
• Uniform standards for technical equipment and room design
• A feel-good environment for students, lecturers and staff

In total, around 150 rooms are being modernized across all of the University of Siegen's properties. These include seminar rooms and lecture halls, in particular the "Colorful Lecture Halls" on the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße campus and the auditorium on the Paul-Bonatz-Straße campus. The Audimax on the AR campus will be equipped with new media technology.

The specific measures may vary depending on the room and location. Important points include

• Interior design: new floors, ceilings, curtains, wall paintwork
• Acoustics and lighting: e.g. sound-absorbing suspended ceilings, energy-efficient lighting
• Furnishings
• Media technology: including projectors, loudspeakers, cameras, electronic whiteboards with cameras in the lecture halls and large seminar rooms

Overall, this creates a modern room quality that optimally supports teaching, group work and hybrid formats.

The measures are to be implemented by the end of 2026. The work will be carried out in stages so that teaching and examination times are affected as little as possible.

The "colorful lecture halls" - blue, red, yellow and green - are a striking feature of the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße campus. They are also being extensively modernized: new lecture hall furniture (folding tables and chairs), new floors, walls, ceilings, new media technology. The colors that give the building its name are to be retained in some form.

The Audimax will also be equipped with completely new media technology. There are also plans to renew the lighting.

At least one so-called highlight room is to be created in each property.
These rooms are particularly flexible and innovatively equipped with rotating, mobile furniture, flexible boards, cameras and ceiling microphones. They are suitable for new didactic concepts and make it easy to switch to small group work, for example.

There may be restrictions during the modernization work. As work is being carried out during ongoing operations and in existing buildings and various tradesmen are involved, it is unfortunately not possible to completely avoid noise, short-term adjustments or temporary room changes.

We therefore ask for your understanding that there may be changes at short notice in individual cases. The university is planning construction times in such a way that examination periods and main event times are taken into account. In the end, everyone will benefit from this project in the long term. The temporary restrictions will help to improve teaching and learning conditions in the long term.

Yes, there may be room changes at short notice due to the construction work. Teachers and students are therefore asked to check their timetables for room changes. The room administration makes every effort to announce and communicate room changes in good time. However, changes at short notice cannot be ruled out, so it is recommended that you check independently.

In the summer semester 2026, priority rooms or internal rooms available to Schools, for example, will be managed centrally based on the plans. If you have any questions, please contact the central room administration.

The modernization is a joint project involving several areas of the university. Department 5 (Building and Property Management) and ZIMT are in charge of the planning and implementation.

The University of Siegen is receiving around 9 million euros from the ZSL investment funding program of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the ERNA project. The programme supports universities in expanding and modernizing their infrastructure.
aims to put teaching and studying on a modern, digital and sustainable footing throughout the state.

Further information on the funding program can be found here: ZSL investment funding program of the state of NRW

All current information can be found centrally on this website, which is updated regularly. There will also be regular updates via the newsletter "Uni-Update", the University of Siegen App and the social media channels
of the University of Siegen.

Due to limited capacities, no longer-term commitments for larger special formats can be made for the period summer semester 2026 to December 2026. We ask for your understanding. Teaching and exams have priority.