Breathing New Life into a Historic Space
Campus 75 revitalizes the city center
The eight-story building at Willy-Brandt-Straße 75 has undergone a comprehensive overhaul and conversion by the architectural firm Kunst + Herbert. The former administrative building now houses the HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration and HKBiS Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Education Service, operating under the name Campus 75. HSBA bachelor's and master's students pursue dual or part-time studies here, while HKBiS continues education programs for individuals and companies span the full spectrum—from half-day seminars to multi-year master's-level courses.
The campus's location holds significant historical resonance, situated within the former New Castle district, along Nikolaifleet and the Deichstraße. It embodies decades of urban planning discourse around the "East-West Road"—a defining force in downtown development from the 1950s through the 1970s. The original structure was erected around 1905 by George Radel, one of Hamburg's most acclaimed Kontorhaus architects, as a state-of-the-art reinforced concrete edifice. In the late 1990s, following two decades of deliberation, Hamburger Sparkasse commissioned Bassewitz Hupertz Limbrock to realize the building in its current form, seamlessly integrating the historic office structure with the adjoining warehouse. The Kontorhaus character remains distinctly legible on the façade facing Rödingsmarkt.
The ground floor features a generous auditorium, conference spaces, and dining facilities that open onto Rödingsmarkt, while the upper levels accommodate extensive seminar and training areas alongside offices, administrative functions, and meeting rooms—all flowing naturally into the open, central spaces. The refined spatial design reveals the building's essential geometry: a historic Kontorhaus warehouse anchors the center, creating visual clarity throughout the interior. Internal courtyards on the ground floor and 2nd, 4th, and 6th levels—with soaring air spaces spanning two or three stories—form the campus's communicative nexus. Continuous galleries foster connection between floors, creating natural gathering spaces for students, faculty, and visitors during presentations, meetings, and informal interactions. The 7th-floor terrace delivers panoramic views across Hamburg's iconic skyline. Original escape routes and fire protection infrastructure remain intact. Since opening, students and staff have embraced a thoughtfully designed environment rich in space, natural light, and cutting-edge amenities.
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(Published in CUBE Hamburg 03|20)