Potsdam Campus Plans at Brauhausberg: 77 Submissions from the Public and Authorities

Hasso Plattner and the HPI as Driving Forces

A new campus is to be built on the Brauhausberg site by 2035, through which software billionaire and SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner, via his foundation, aims to expand his IT research institution, the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI). "Damit soll Deutschland bei der Forschung zur Künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) im internationalen Wettbewerb stärker mitmischen," according to sources close to the project. The HPI is part of the University of Potsdam.

In addition to the HPI, law and social sciences are also expected to move from the Griebnitzsee campus to the new location near the main train station. This would create a central inner-city university location that is spatially close to the existing institutes.

The Brauhausberg site has a turbulent history. In the GDR, the widely visible building housed the SED district and county leadership. It therefore earned the nickname "Kremlin." Until 2013, it was home to the Brandenburg state parliament. For many years, it stood empty. Years ago, there were plans to convert it for residential and commercial use. "Immer wieder kam es auch zu Beschädigungen auf dem Gelände durch Vandalismus."

History of a Burdened Site

In August 2023, a major fire broke out in the heritage-protected building. "Dabei stürzte der Dachstuhl ein." The historic building thus represents a difficult starting point for the campus plans, both in terms of heritage protection and structurally.

Expert Reports and Timeline through 2027

Several specialized expert reports are currently being prepared as part of the ongoing planning process. "Dabei gehe es unter anderem um die Themen Mobilität und Verkehr, Entwässerung, Artenschutz, Boden und Baugrund, Schall und Luftqualität," the participants explained. The findings of the reports on traffic, the environment, and the building ground form the basis for the next procedural step.

The formal draft development plan is to be drawn up in the second half of 2026. "Der Beschluss des Bebauungsplans durch die Stadtverordnetenversammlung ist demnach für das kommende Jahr vorgesehen." Based on the current schedule, a political decision on the Brauhausberg site can therefore be expected in 2027.

If the campus is realized as planned, Potsdam would gain a further locational advantage in the competition among university and research locations in Germany. The combination of heritage-protected building fabric, an inner-city location, and an internationally visible donor-led project is regarded in the city as an opportunity to bring the decades-long debate over the future use of the Brauhausberg to a conclusion.

With the initiated development plan procedure and the participation of authorities and citizens, the formal phase of urban planning has now begun. Only after the draft is presented in the second half of 2026 and a resolution is passed by the city council in the following year can the project be advanced further under building law.