400 million euros available for urgent renovations at FAU
An important milestone has been reached for two major construction projects at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU): The budget committee of the Bavarian state parliament has released approximately 76 million euros for the renovation and refurbishment of the Schloss and 324 million euros for the second construction phase of the Chemikum building.
“We are very pleased about these major steps forward in our site development: Completing the second construction phase of the Chemikum will provide our researchers with outstanding facilities for conducting cutting-edge international research and the perfect prerequisites for first-class teaching. We hope that this will give a boost to the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy’s already considerable capacity for innovation,” says FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger. “By renovating the Schloss in Erlangen we are not only giving the landmark of the city of Erlangen a major facelift, we are also fitting it out to meet the needs of a modern and future-oriented university and a contemporary place of work.”
Complete overhaul of Erlangen’s landmark
The release of the funds paves the way for beginning construction works at the Schloss from late 2027 onward. The last comprehensive renovation works were conducted on the listed building more than 60 years ago, and it is over 40 years since any major works were done. Planned works include cleaning up legacy contamination, strengthening the structure, replacing the roof, carrying out energy‑efficiency renovations, and restoring the stone facade and the statues.
Until late 2024, the Schloss, which is over 300 years old, was home to the Executive Board of the University and a large part of the University Administration, which have now moved to their new headquarters in Freyeslebenstraße 1. After the renovation is completed, the Executive Board and parts of the administration are to return to Erlangen city center.
New home for Chemistry and Pharmacy at FAU
Work on the second construction phase for the Chemikum building are set to start in early 2027, after preparatory works have already been ongoing for several months now. The building included in the first construction phase has already been open for use at FAU Campus Erlangen South since 2018. In future, the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy will be housed in these two buildings instead of spread over several locations across Erlangen as is the case to date.