"Alte Aula" - Austrian Academy of Sciences

The "Alte Aula," the representative building of the early Baroque Jesuit University of Vienna, presents itself as a modern event center for the Austrian Academy of Sciences after the comprehensive renovation completed in 2006, combining valuable historical substance with contemporary technical infrastructure. This historical building in the city center of Vienna, in close proximity to the Austrian Academy of Sciences, takes on a new and fitting role in the 21st century, aligned with its original purpose as the representative building of the Old University. The "Aula der Wissenschaften" (Hall of Sciences) serves as a meeting place between science and the public, aiming to promote public understanding of science, research, and technology in Austria and Europe.

The project was initiated by the Austrian Academy of Sciences through an international architectural competition in the summer of 2000. With the revitalization funded by public resources, a multifunctional event center with contemporary infrastructure was successfully created, providing an appropriate setting for its new purpose.

Blending the old with the new "The existing structure was purged of non-structural elements and adapted to its new function, while preserving its aura and strengthening it in dialogue with the present. The design objective was to create a coherent connection between the old and new elements, forming a new and independent unity. The infrastructure pathways are generally embedded in the floor. The network of floor tanks for power and IT plugs is extended by a second supply level suspended freely in the vaults," explains Rudolf Prohazka, who, after winning the competition, led the revitalization of the Alte Aula as the general planner.

The sophisticated technology integrated into the venerable building is hardly visible from the outside. The multifunctional event hall on the second floor can be adapted to the needs of the organizer with a self-propelled wall, allowing for versatile room sizes. The urban context was also reconnected with the surrounding city; a public square was created facing Wollzeile, and the level difference between Wollzeile and Bäckerstraße was bridged through the ground floor.

The heart of the Alte Aula revolves around the achievements and knowledge, as well as the questions and issues, of science, research, and technology in the present and the past. They are to be addressed, represented, and publicly discussed here, highlighting their significance for society. The excellence in planning and the high-quality execution are evident in every detail of the revitalization. The integration of the old with the new is achieved without losing respect for the old, preserving the importance of the architecture.