4 March 2011
HPP/ ASTOC Joint Venture awarded General Planning Contract to Build the new Ruhr West University

The HPP/ ASTOC joint venture has been awarded the contract to build the new Ruhr West University in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The general planning contract to be led by HPP Architects was signed at the press conference of the Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb of North Rhine Westfalia in Muenster this afternoon.
The design for the new university campus in Duisburger Strasse was the winning entry out of 15 in the 2-stage Europe-wide competition.
The brief of the competition was to design a highly attractive urban university campus with its own distinctive identity and a high level of flexibility of use. The resulting campus ensemble sits well in its urban setting and consists of eight separate structures: four faculty buildings, three specialist buildings and a multi-storey car park. The central theme of the design is Unity and Diversity, which is played out over the facades of the individual buildings and becomes the very image of the campus itself. The layout of the public spaces will improve and revitalise the surrounding townscape.
Architects HPP and ASTOC will bring their vast experience in the realms of architecture and urban planning to the design and construction of the 62,800 m² project. The joint venture will allow them to share and expand together their specific experience in the design of universities and campuses. Winter Ingenieure as engineers and Planergruppe Oberhausen as landscape architects will be lending their expertise and synergy to the team.
Construction is due to start in spring 2012; completion should be achieved in 2014.