180 million euros are being invested in the new Computer Science building at RWTH. Science Minister Ina Brandes delivered this good news to (from left) Vice Rector Matthias Wessling, Professor Holger Hoos, and Leif Kobbelt, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science.
Photographer: Andreas Schmitter
The Department of Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University is set to undergo a significant expansion of its infrastructure. Up to 180 million euros from the “North Rhine-Westphalia Plan for Good Infrastructure” will be invested in a new building featuring an integrated “AI Center.” This will create new spatial and structural conditions for research and teaching in the field of artificial intelligence and related disciplines.
The new building on Ahornstraße is expected to accommodate approximately 400 academic, technical, and administrative staff members, as well as nearly 5,000 students. In addition to traditional workspaces, the plan includes real-world laboratories and co-working spaces designed to facilitate new forms of collaboration. The goal is to expand the existing structures of computer science while simultaneously creating modern working conditions that meet the demands of current research.
“Excellent research and teaching require excellent infrastructure,” emphasized Science Minister Ina Brandes during the presentation of the funding commitment. The new “AI Center” is intended to further enhance the appeal of North Rhine-Westphalia as a location and create an environment that is internationally competitive. The investment is part of a strategic focus on future-oriented topics, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
Within RWTH as well, the new building is viewed as an important step forward. “The AI Center is coming home,” said Professor Leif Kobbelt, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, referring to the planned relocation of the center—currently located on Theaterstraße—to Ahornstraße. Professor Ulrich Rüdiger emphasized that modern infrastructure is a key prerequisite for transferring research results to society and further expanding RWTH’s role as a high-performing research hub.
The “AI Center” is led by Professor Holger Hoos together with Professor Sebastian Trimpe. “The new building for the RWTH Aachen AI Center is another essential step on the path from coal to AI,” explained Hoos. The focus is on developing secure, reliable, and sustainable AI systems.
The new buildings are also intended to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. RWTH Chancellor Thomas Trännapp noted that computer science involves a high degree of interdisciplinary networking and that the planned structures meet this need. The goal is to create optimal conditions for researchers and staff and to support the long-term development of computer science.
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