Main building of the University of Berne

The main building of the University of Bern stands at Grosse Schanze and features a symmetrical design with a central courtyard and an ornate dome above the auditorium area. The structure rises across multiple stories and houses lecture halls, administrative offices, and the Law Library.

The University of Bern commissioned this building designed by architects Eduard Joos and Alfred Hodler, which opened in 1903. It was built during an era of significant academic growth across Switzerland.

The main building functions as the intellectual heart of the university and shapes how students and faculty experience academic life in the city. It serves as a meeting point where different fields of study converge under one roof.

The building complex is organized across different levels connected by stairs and corridors. Visitors should allow time to navigate the various areas, especially if seeking specific rooms or departments.

The transition from sandstone facades to different interior materials shows creative construction solutions within budget limitations. This detail reveals much about how buildings were designed and built during that era.

Location: Bern

Inception: 1903

Architects: Eduard Joos, Alfred Hodler

Official opening: June 4, 1903

Part of: list of cultural properties in Bern / Länggasse-Felsenau, University of Bern

Address: Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Bern

GPS coordinates: 46.95028,7.43806

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:26