Goethe University Frankfurt – House of Finance, Frankfurt – 2008

The House of Finance on the Westend campus in Frankfurt am Main takes up the model of Hans Poelzig’s IG-Farben ensemble with its accentuated vertical façade elements, closed building corners and sculptural elaboration of the openings within a monolithic body. The openings in the building on the upper floors facing the Gruneberg Park and the choice of materials underline this idea. Additionally, a pedestal extends out towards the lower Gruneberg Park. The park architecture thus flows here between the House of Finance and the Law and Economics Building into the central campus square.

The building offers space for 300 employees and 900 students of the institutes in a usable floor area of 7,000 sqm. Theatre-style auditoriums and the information centre form the base of the building. All generally accessible teaching areas are located in the upper floors of the main building, whereas the institutes are located in the side wings. The variable floor plan enables open, transparent and sustainable office structures.

Architects: Jan Kleihues and Norbert Hensel

Location: Grüneburgplatz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main

Client: State of Hesse

GFA: 12.325 sqm

Type of use: Goethe University Frankfurt – House of Finance with public access faculties, administration, bistro, technical services

Competition: 2005, 1. Prize

Realization: 2006 – 2008 (Lph. 1-9)

Costs: 23,2 Mio. €