WiSo Building
Riphahn's faculty building with a nine-story tower, polygonal lecture halls and garden courtyards – awarded the Cologne Architecture Prize in 1967.
The building was one of the first extensions to the University of Cologne, built to give the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences more space. Today a new wing complements the ensemble, echoing the older structure's design.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Seat of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne
- Location
- Entrance front on Universitätsstraße in Cologne-Lindenthal, right beside the university's main building
- Construction
- 1956–1960
- Layout
- Nine-story tower with a low podium building in front
- Art
- Brick reliefs and a bronze sculpture by Antoine Bourdelle
- Heritage status
- Listed building, on Cologne's heritage register since 12 October 1998 (no. 8367)
- Extension
- Five-story new wing facing the street
In the courtyard of the WiSo building stands the bronze sculpture “Herakles mit dem Bogen” by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, dating from 1909.
Riphahn's Design
Cologne architect Wilhelm Riphahn combined a high-rise with a low podium structure. Facing the street, the single-story seminar wing presents a plain, punched façade. Toward the green belt, three polygonal lecture halls project prominently as part of a two-story volume. Three individually designed garden courtyards are cut into the deep building mass, providing natural light and ventilation. In 1967 the ensemble received the Cologne Architecture Prize.
Art on the Building
On the tower's entrance façade, Minerva and Mercury appear as brick reliefs. In the courtyard stands the bronze sculpture "Herakles the Archer" by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, dating from 1909.
The 2019 Extension
The basis was a structural and development plan presented in 2012 by the ASTOC Architects and Planners office, aimed at better linking the campus with the surrounding urban and green spaces. The construction contract went to MBS Baugesellschaft mbH, and the new wing opened in May 2019. It stands in front of the single-story old section, rising well above it while remaining four stories shorter than the tower. A clearly visible seam separates old and new.
Seminar Rooms and Loggias
The seminar rooms sit on the ground floor at the ends and center of the new wing, mirroring the old building's lecture halls in symmetry. Where they cross the seam, glazed connecting elements link them, keeping the view open along the entire length. The spaces in between serve as green loggias, echoing the old building's garden courtyards. Glazing on both sides keeps the old building visible from the street.
Façade and Entrance of the New Wing
Above the precast-concrete-clad plinth rise four office floors with a strict punched façade recalling that of the tower. The new entrance faces Albertus-Magnus-Platz and is marked by large lettering cast into the concrete.
Timeline
- 1956Construction of the WiSo building begins, designed by Wilhelm Riphahn
- 1960Completion of the original building complex
- 1967Building ensemble awarded the Cologne Architecture Prize
- 1998Listed as a protected monument (12 October) in the Lindenthal heritage list
- 2012Presentation of the structural and development plan by ASTOC
- 2019Extension building opened in May
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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-26
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