Zentralgebäude, University building in Lüneburg, Germany

The Zentralgebäude is a university building in Lüneburg standing 38 meters tall with angular walls made of concrete and glass panels that form geometric patterns on the exterior. Inside, seven floors hold classrooms, seminar rooms, a 2000-square-meter event space, and the main university foyer.

The project was presented on 19 December 2007 by university president Sascha Spoun, vice-president Holm Keller and science minister Lutz Stratmann. Architect Daniel Libeskind, who joined Leuphana as an adjunct professor in summer 2007, produced the first design. Originally budgeted at 57.7 million euros, costs rose to 72.7 million and were estimated at up to 91 million by February 2014. The building opened on 11 March 2017.

The building's name, Zentralgebäude, simply means "central building" in German, reflecting its role as the focal point of the Leuphana campus. It was designed by Daniel Libeskind, who took up a part-time professorship at the university in summer 2007 and presented his first draft for the building in that same period. The university states that the design was further developed in collaboration with students and teaching staff.

The structure has clear pathways through its seven floors and wide hallways that are easy to navigate. You can find event spaces and public areas without difficulty, even on your first visit.

The building's zinc facade was partly supplied free by Rheinzink of Datteln under a sponsorship deal. A 2011 report by the Landesrechnungshof criticized this arrangement, arguing it bypassed competition and excluded other suppliers.