Three sites – one unified whole

Within walking distance of the Lower Castle campus, Campus North (in the Friedrichstraße area) and Campus South (at Löhrtor) are set to be developed over the coming years. With the preliminary planning now complete, construction of the main phase is scheduled to begin in 2026. The winning designs from the urban planning competition will link the sites closely with the Lower Castle: on the one hand via a wide staircase at the former Hettlage department store leading to the square by the Dicken Turm, and on the other via a modern lift to the Upper Town. This public lift will be integrated into a gap between buildings near the old textile factory, and by providing effortless access, it will make a long-cherished dream of Siegen come true.

A modern canteen and historical heritage

A landmark has already become part of everyday life: the canteen at Unteres Schloss. The designers have succeeded in incorporating the centuries-old city wall directly into the new building as a historical feature. Today, it forms part of the cafeteria’s interior wall, creating a fascinating contrast between glass and old rubble stone. The canteen can serve up to 2,700 meals a day – a lively meeting place right in the heart of the city.

Lecture theatres in a department store: a pioneering project

For several years now, students have been studying hard on the top floor of the former Kartstadt building. The lecture theatre complex built there can accomodate up to 1,350 students at any one time. The large „Friedrich Schadeberg Lecture Theatre“ (named after the entrepreneur and honorary doctor of the university who passed away in 2018) and modern seminar rooms demonstare how vacant premises in the city centre can be put to good use.

A green oasis on the Weiß

Nature is coming back to life on Campus South. The Weiß, Siegen’s second largest river, has regained ist natural riverbed in the section between Oranienstraße and Häutebachweg. The restoration work was completed in spring 2026. With new riverside paths, plenty of greenery and the preservation of the beautiful old cherry trees, a green oasis has been created here that improves the urban climate and significantly enhances the quality of life. On the site of the current Löhrtor indoor swimming pool, following its (as yet pending) demolition, plans are in place to construct a modern faculty building that will open up architecturally towards the new green corridor along the Weiß.

Full details on the current status of the „Siegen. Knowledge Connects“ project are available online at: siegen-wissen-verbindet.de