Rebel Billionaire's Scientific Revolution in Potsdam: A Campus Rising from Ruins
Hasso Plattner Plans to Transform the Previous Landscape into a University Campus - Hasso Plattner intends to convert a blighted locale into a university district.
Say goodbye to the derelict lands near Potsdam's Lake Griebnitzsee, for they are about to undergo a spectacular metamorphosis! Software tycoon, patron of the arts, and all-around maverick, Hasso Plattner, is planning to breathe new life into a long-abandoned site that was once home to the Brandenburg State Parliament. Sounds like the plot to a blockbuster movie, doesn't it? Well, buckle up, because this is no mere rehearsal - it's the real deal!
In the heart of Germany, this small, historic city is about to become a scientific powerhouse, courtesy of Plattner's visionary project. But let's take a step back and delve a little deeper into the roots of this transformation.
Plattner's Past: A Tale of Two Institutions
Hasso Plattner, the man behind the curtain, has been a driving force in shaping the science and art landscape of Potsdam for years. You might know him as the co-founder of the software giant, SAP, or perhaps as the brains behind the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI), an IT research institution that he established in the city's capital back in 1998. If you thought that wasn't enough, he opened the Barberini art museum in 2017, housing a large collection of impressionist works, followed by the Kunsthaus Minsk in 2022. A man of many talents, indeed!
The Campus in the Making
Details of the project will be unveiled on Monday, August 8th, at the University of Potsdam, alongside the Hasso Plattner Foundation. The state chancellery has announced this sudden reveal, hinting at plans to renovate the dilapidated former state parliament on the Brauhausberg and transform it into the fourth campus of the University of Potsdam.
Note: The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) is deeply intertwined with this latest endeavor, as it has been spearheading the development of educational and scientific facilities in the Potsdam region since its inception in 1998.
The project has been a long time coming. The former state parliament, which was a GDR showpiece for the SED district and county leadership, has been lying empty for years. Renovations for apartments and commercial spaces were once proposed, but the site remained in tatters. In 2023, a major fire ravaged the listed building, causing the roof to collapse, and instances of vandalism haven't been uncommon.
Eagerly awaiting Monday's presentation, the people of Potsdam can only imagine the grand designs that Plattner has up his sleeve. For now, we can only speculate about the potential collaboration between the HPI and the University of Potsdam, two institutions that have already worked together to make Potsdam a hub of innovation and learning.
As the city pulls up its socks to welcome this new chapter, one thing's for sure - Hasso Plattner's move is about more than just restoring a derelict building. It's about reimagining the landscape of science in Potsdam, and building a legacy that will stand the test of time.
Postscript: A Look Back, A Glimpse Ahead
If the success of the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) is any indication, Potsdam is poised to become a beacon of academic excellence. Since its inception, HPI has grown significantly, with partnerships with the University of Potsdam and the establishment of the "Digital Engineering Faculty," the first privately financed faculty at a public university in Germany. The campus on Lake Griebnitzsee has served as a hub of research and learning for the HPI students and faculty, playing a pivotal role in the region's development as a science hub.
With the upcoming partnership between the Hasso Plattner Foundation, the State of Brandenburg, and the University of Potsdam, one thing is certain: Potsdam is set to defy the passage of time and blaze a trail into the future!
*Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, Science, University of Potsdam, German Press Agency, SAP, Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), Hasso-Plattner Foundation*
- The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), with its focus on vocational training and educational facilities, will likely collaborate with the University of Potsdam to incorporate aspects of personal growth, learning, and science in the former state parliament's transformation, thereby contributing to the city's ongoing evolution as a hub for education-and-self-development and science.
- As Potsdam experiences a scientific revolution under Hasso Plattner's vision, the community policy is expected to foster an environment that reinforces the city's commitment to academic excellence and innovation, while maintaining the historical charm of the region, making it a beacon for future learners and contributors to various scientific fields.
