Renaming at Lousberg: Students celebrate the “Renate-von-Brause-Haus”

Aachen, July 12, 2025: The oldest of the four striking student towers on Aachen's Lousberg, the “Otto-Petersen-Haus”, now bears a new name. With the inauguration of the redesigned entrance sign by Managing Director Sebastian Böstel, Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen and the house spokesperson David Grießner, the hall of residence was officially renamed “Renate-von-Brause-Haus” - a step that goes far beyond a mere name change.

A symbol of change
The “Otto-Petersen-Haus” was the first of four student housing towers built in Rütscher Strasse in the 1960s. They have shaped the image of Aachen's West for decades - but the name of the first tower has been tainted by a dark past: the original namesake was considered controversial by many due to his open commitment to the NSDAP and his higher party post in the Third Reich.

With a view to an open, tolerant society, Sebastian Böstel had already been dealing with the issue since he took over as Managing Director and decided to replace the name. The tower's 60th birthday this year provided the perfect occasion. In his welcoming speech, he emphasized: "It was very important to me from the very beginning to rename the hall of residence. As a service provider for the students and operators of the halls of residence, we want to take responsibility in these times and clearly position ourselves against any form of extremism. We have chosen the architect Renate von Brause - a woman who has a strong connection to this hall of residence - as the new name patron. She was a committed planner and university lecturer who played a key role in the design of our four towers. Her commitment to innovation and equality makes her the ideal namesake - especially in light of her role as a pioneer in a male-dominated profession."

Silent designer of the post-war period
Renate Knacke von Brause (née von Brause) was born on July 23, 1921 in Deutsch Eylau in what is now Poland. She studied architecture at the Technical University of Aachen, now the RWTH. During her studies, she worked as an assistant to Prof. Dr. Hans Schwippert at the Chair of Craftsmanship. Schwippert is still known today as a designer of reconstruction in West German post-war modernism. After working for a Berlin architect, she independently supervised projects and was significantly involved in public buildings. She took on a leading role in the design and implementation of the four towers. In 1969, she was awarded an adjunct professorship at the RWTH. In 1971, she was appointed Scientific Advisor and Professor. Although she was little known to the public, her work continues to shape the cityscape of Aachen to this day. Students and colleagues alike appreciated her as a precise, conscientious architect and as an outstanding human being.

Against exclusion and for tolerance
Aachen's Lord Mayor Sybille Keupen also welcomes the renaming: "I am very pleased that the Studierendenwerk and students have jointly found a new name for the student tower on Lousberg with the ‘Renate-von-Brause-Haus’. This is a far-sighted decision and a clear statement for an open, tolerant society and university."

David Grießner, spokesperson for the residents of Renate-von-Brause-Haus, couldn't agree more: "Diversity and tolerance are two of our greatest strengths, not only as neighbors, but also as students and as Aacheners. Our hall of residence should be a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of origin or gender. It is important that we not only live this diversity, but also show it to the outside world as a role model. The new name of our building, one of the most striking buildings on the Aachen skyline, is an important sign of this."

A joint celebration for cohesion
The event attracted many residents as well as other students, who eagerly followed the moment of the unveiling. After the official ceremony, around 250 students gathered for their own party in the inner courtyard. The Studierendenwerk provided support with barbecues for several hundred residents - an expression of the sense of community and respectful cooperation. “Especially in these multicultural halls of residence, it is important that people from different backgrounds live together peacefully and come into contact with each other,” says Sebastian Böstel.

Past and present
The four towers on Rütscher Strasse were built between 1965 and 1968. They were built as part of a competition under the motto “How do we want to live?” and were innovative projects at the time to accommodate around 1,000 students. They have been an integral part of student life in Aachen for decades. All the buildings were named after famous - male - personalities at the time. The three neighboring towers of the Renate-von-Brause-Haus still bear the names Walter Eilender, Theodore von Kármán and Otto Intze.