Restoration of the State Council building: A piece of GDR history comes to life!

Restoration of the State Council building: A piece of GDR history comes to life!

An important cultural monument in Berlin receives new impulses for its restoration. The esmt (European School of Management and Technology) , which has been accommodated in the former building of the State Council of the GDR on the Schlossplatz since 2002, has support from the German Foundation for monument protection and the Villum Foundation. The financing focuses on the western wing of the building, which historically housed a meeting hall and a cinema for film censorship.

The planned measures aim to maintain the characteristic surfaces and architectural features of the historical building. At the same time, the premises for academic purposes, such as lectures, should be adapted. Jörg Rocholl, President of ESMT, emphasizes the significant role of this support for the preservation of part of German history and the increasing importance of education, research and culture in these rooms.

restoration as a contribution to the cultural heritage

The Villum Foundation announced its support during a celebration for the 40th anniversary of the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Andreas Grabsch from the German Foundation for Monument Protection emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and targeted financing for the preservation of important monuments. The restoration not only makes a piece of history accessible again, but also an important contribution to the sustainable preservation of the cultural heritage.

The ESMT campus, which was put into operation in 2006, was partially rebuilt with an investment volume of 35 million euros in order to give historical rooms a new provision. The former Banquet and dinner halls were converted into lecture areas and auditories. A comprehensive concept for the restoration and use of the historical elements shows that it dynamically adapts to the needs of the academic community.

valuable historical rooms

The individual premises within the building were removed, such as the conversion of the former dining room into an auditorium with space for 360 people. The office of the former State Council chairman Erich Honecker was also converted into a lounge. On the ground floor there is a bookstore, a restaurant and a café that are accessible to the public. The most modern standards are fair and integrated digital tools and methods.

In addition, it is pointed out to the digital recording and documentation of cultural heritage, specifically in relation to the sustainable preservation of monuments about the