Rendering SnøhettaThe development of the 22nd Century Center (22CC) at the University of Klagenfurt is making significant progress. During an intensive workshop with the architectural firm Snøhetta and the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) on 17 March, agreements were finalised regarding the new campus building’s spatial and functional design.
With this, we now have a clear idea of which departments, units and service facilities will be housed in the 22CC in the future and how the building’s central functions will be arranged. This milestone will serve as the basis for further architectural planning.
Adding much-needed teaching space and expanding the book repository
The new building will provide approximately 1,000 square metres of urgently needed teaching space. These additional lecture halls and seminar rooms are crucial for the university, as existing capacities have been stretched to their limits for some time. The new space will help to significantly ease the current space constraints and improve conditions for teaching and studying. This directly benefits both students and teaching staff: smaller group sizes, modern learning environments and greater flexibility in the use of rooms improve the quality of support; this, in turn, allows for the development of contemporary teaching and learning formats. The library will also gain much-needed new space on the ground floor in the form of a book repository.
A one-stop shop for students and consolidation of previously fragmented units
The 22nd Century Center will be a student-centred, open and future-oriented campus building, gathering the university’s central services in one place for the first time.
The building will serve as a hub for facilities that support students and prospective students throughout their academic careers:
- Center for University Learning and Teaching
- International Office
- ÖH Service Centre
- Admissions and Examinations Office
- Office of Academic Affairs
- Uni Services (Public Relations and Communication)
This creates a one-stop shop for students, providing advice, services and support in a convenient and easily accessible format. As a result, the 22CC provides a central point of contact for all questions relating to studies, organisation and career planning.
The following organisational units will also be housed in the building:
- Department of Educational Science
- Department of Informatics Didactics
- Department of Instructional and School Development
- School of Education
- AAU+ Center for Professional and Lifelong Learning
For the first time, this creates a spatial consolidation of all organisational units at the University of Klagenfurt that deal with teaching, education and lifelong learning. This close proximity will greatly facilitate cooperation and exchange and open up new opportunities for joint projects and innovative teaching and learning formats. At the same time, bundling enhances the profile of these key future areas of the university – both within the university itself and vis-à-vis schools, educational institutions and partners in the region.
Furthermore, the Equal Opportunities Working Group and the University Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies and Diversity will also share a common location for the first time.
Centre for Human and Data Sciences and Karl Popper Kolleg
The Centre for Human and Data Sciences defines itself as an interdisciplinary research and education centre addressing key future topics related to digitalisation. Focus areas include digital health, technology, and human flourishing. The new building will feature a shared research and collaboration space with a living lab, workspaces and meeting places for students and researchers, promoting exchange, networking, events and joint initiatives, thereby acting as a powerful catalyst for faculties, departments and partners.
The Karl Popper Kolleg (KPK) fosters sustainable synergies between promising early-career researchers and leading international scholars (scientists in residence). The KPK contributes to the opening up, internationalisation and reputation of the region, creating special opportunities for highly qualified early-career researchers and generating sustainable multiplier effects.
On-site day-care centre at the heart of the campus
We are particularly pleased about the creation of the on-site day-care centre, which will bring life to the ground floor covering an area of around 500 square metres. We also plan to include outdoor play areas.
New welcoming culture on campus
Special attention is being paid to the university’s new entrance area. The plan is to create a spacious, open and welcoming area with modern advisory and information facilities for prospective and current students.
It is intended that the building will serve as a visible symbol of a strong culture of welcome and excellent support, offering orientation and one-to-one advice immediately upon entering the university campus.
The 22nd Century Center represents a new building that combines teaching, service and campus life in a fresh way – student-oriented, open and forward-looking.
Space for learning, exchange and collaboration
In addition to the service facilities, the 22CC will feature modern teaching and learning spaces that meet the requirements of a contemporary university. Open spatial structures promote exchange, interaction and new forms of learning and research.
The building, and in particular the grand, multifunctional staircase, are set to become a thriving space for learning, working and socialising – carefully tailored to the needs of students.
Project overview
Usable space: approx. 7,480 sqm
Space for: 1,300 students
Space for: 360 work stations
Gross capital expenditure: approx. 91.2 million euros
- of which construction: 78.7 million euros
- one-off project costs (furnishings & equipment, relocation): 12.5 million euros
Developer and owner: Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG) (Federal Real Estate Company)
Architectural office: Snøhetta Studio Innsbruck
Project schedule
The schedule for the project involves several planning and construction phases that progress sequentially:
Spring 2026 – start of planning
The detailed architectural and functional design of the project is being carried out at the start of the design phase by the architectural firm Snøhetta in collaboration with BIG and the university.
27 May 2026 – information session for local residents
Local residents will be informed about the project, the current state of planning and the next steps during an information event held on campus.
Autumn 2026 – completion of the architectural design
The architectural design will be completed by October/November 2026 and finalised in close consultation with the university and the project owner.
December 2026 – planning for submission
The construction documents are submitted to the relevant authorities and the approval process is initiated.
2027 – preparation for the construction phase
Once the approval phase has been completed, detailed planning, tendering and preparation for construction will take place.
September 2027 – start of construction
The official start of construction marks the beginning of the realisation of the new campus building.
2027–2029 – construction phase
This phase involves the construction of the building as well as the technical outfitting and interior design of the learning, working and service spaces.
4th quarter of 2029 – completion and handover of the building
Once construction work has been completed, the building will be handed over to the university and made ready for use.
Please follow this link to view the final spatial and functional design: https://www.aau.at/en/university/campus/22cc/#preliminary-draft
Further information: 22nd Century Center (22CC) | University of Klagenfurt
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