Steeped in history and a listed building: this is the Prüfening site, which was once the headquarters of OTH Regensburg. It therefore makes perfect sense to carefully renovate this building and develop it sustainably.
Historic architecture meets a forward-looking concept
Step by step, modern learning and working spaces for students are taking shape within this historic building: featuring team work areas and private workstations, seminar rooms and, most recently, a cosy ‘Studiloft’ and an external lift providing barrier-free access, which has been in operation since spring 2025.
In the next major phase, parts of the façade and roof will undergo energy-efficiency refurbishment to ensure the complex is fit for the future. What makes this project special is that a teaching and research project run by the Faculty of Architecture is accompanying this process, providing support through an analysis of the building’s architectural history, structural integrity and indoor climate, as well as design and refurbishment concepts. In this way, research and teaching are actively integrated into the process.
A first: a university as the developer
In addition to the close integration of academia and administration, there is another distinctive feature: OTH Regensburg is acting as the project owner for this initiative. This is a first, as emphasised by Utto Spielbauer, Chancellor of OTH Regensburg since February 2026.
Designing campus spaces as living environments
In its 2023 University Development Plan, OTH Regensburg set out, amongst other guidelines, the aim of designing its campus spaces as living environments: with excellent study conditions, a high quality of life for those using the space, and a responsible approach to existing buildings and history. This aim also underpins the ongoing development of the Prüfening site. Each of the measures implemented there is intended to “create greater comfort, greater safety and an environment in which learning and working are a pleasure”, according to Elke Würth from the Buildings and Technology Department, who is responsible for the site’s further development.
Students are delighted with the ‘Studiloft’
The students, too, are delighted with the changes at the Prüfening campus, particularly the Studiloft: Judith Gabriel and Lukas Läpple from the student council are convinced of the high quality of the space in this modern setting. During the development of the Studiloft, students were not only able to contribute their ideas and wishes, but also play an active role in its design. The colour scheme of the furniture is inspired by the interior design of the building complex, which was built in the 1950s.
Another key component of the modern teaching and learning infrastructure is the new scale-up room: with its learning islands and dedicated technical equipment, it offers the ideal conditions for collaborative work using digital tools.
Bringing together: heritage conservation, sustainability and university development
“For us, this project is a successful example of how heritage conservation, sustainability and university development can go hand in hand,” emphasises Gerhard Haslbeck, Head of the University Construction Division at the Regensburg State Building Authority. “Together with OTH Regensburg, we have succeeded in preserving the historic fabric whilst at the same time meeting modern requirements for energy efficiency and user comfort.”