100 years Haus der Studentenschaft

On 8 November 1925, “Haus der Studentenschaft”, today the headquarters of Studierendenwerk Aachen, opened its doors. The anniversary was celebrated in style with a ceremony in the old theater hall. An exhibition on the first floor of Mensa Academica sheds light on the eventful history of the building.

What did the administration and dinming hall building on Pontwall look like in the past? How has this central location for Aachen's students changed over the course of a century? Around 100 guests joined Studierendenwerk on an exciting journey through time in the theater hall. Presenter Robert Esser charmingly guided the guests through the colorful program and entertained them perfectly.

A milestone for student support

Sebastian Böstel, Managing Director of Studierendenwerk, opened the ceremony and emphasized the importance of the building: "8 November 1925 marks a milestone. This building laid the foundation stone for Studierendenhilfe, which has developed steadily over the decades and has become an integral part of Aachen."

NRW Minister of Culture and Science Ina Brandes was among the many well-wishers. "This place has shaped student life in Aachen for generations. What once began in modest rooms is now an important part of Aachen's university landscape," she explained in a video message. Aachen's new Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons also welcomed the guests. In his speech, he emphasized the solidarity he associates with the services provided by Studierendenwerk.

Professor Dr. Elisabeth Beusker from the Faculty of Architecture at RWTH spoke about the architectural development of the building, which was designed in part by Bauhaus architect Hans Schwippert. The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion with former and current students, including 91-year-old Karl-Egon Reuter. He spoke movingly about his time as a drama student in the student house in the 1950s.

A mirror of student worlds 

The exhibition on the first floor, which opened on the same day, shows impressive texts and pictures and tells the story of the building with all its ups and downs. Originally planned for 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of Studierendenwerk, the exhibition had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Now it presents the history of Haus der Studentenschaft in a compact form.

Ute von Drathen, responsible for corporate communications at Studierendenwerk, reports: "When we were preparing for the anniversary in 2020 and researching the history of Studierendenwerk, we quickly realized that we had to tell the many stories of Pontwall. The concept lay in a drawer for five years. We are all the more pleased that the anniversary of the building was the perfect occasion to bring the designs back out." Together with the agency wesentlich, she realized the exhibition. Saskia Petermann, who has already realized many exhibitions in Aachen, explains: "Our aim was to use the existing architecture and advertising space in such a way that the exhibition fits in seamlessly. That was challenging, but also a wonderful task."

QR codes lead to further images, videos and audio slides. The exhibition can be seen until 30 January 2026 during the opening hours of Mensa Academica.

To the virtual tour through the history of the Studierendenwerk

History Haus der Studentenschaft

Pictures for download (Pictures: Andreas Steindl)