New pavilion creates a space for interaction and ideas A special learning and event venue has been created in the Botanical Garden of TU Braunschweig

Over the past few months, a glass pavilion has been built on the extension site of the Botanical Garden of Technische Universität Braunschweig. It is complemented by a newly landscaped, spacious outdoor area. Together, the pavilion and outdoor area form a new space for socialising, exchanging ideas and learning together.

The new pavilion in the Botanical Garden of TU Braunschweig. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig

With a diameter of around six metres, the pavilion’s surrounding bench seats around 30 people. During events, additional benches for listeners can be set up in the immediately adjacent outdoor area. This allows the pavilion itself to be used as a sheltered venue for lectures or performances, whilst the audience takes their seats in front of it – amidst the Botanical Garden’s unique variety of plants.

“Filling a new space with ideas”: Professor Robert Hänsch, Executive Director of the Institute of Plant Biology and the Botanical Garden. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig

The possible uses extend far beyond traditional botanical tours and scientific excursions: the pavilion offers space for seminars across various fields of study, working group meetings and creative thinking sessions – as well as for readings, small concerts and other social events.

“We would like to expressly invite all members of our university to discover this new space and fill it with their own ideas,” says Professor Robert Hänsch, Executive Director of the Institute of Plant Biology and the Botanical Garden. “The pavilion is intended to be a place where people can strike up conversations, reflect together and develop new perspectives.”

The Botanical Garden offers an inspiring environment, particularly for the development of new sustainability concepts. Nature, science and education come together directly here. The pavilion can thus become a place where interdisciplinary ideas for a sustainable university are conceived and further developed collaboratively.

The Botanical Garden as a place of teaching and learning

Students of Biology, Biology Teacher Training, Food Chemistry and Environmental Sciences use it for identification exercises, for working with living plant material, and for exploring plant diversity and taxonomy. At the same time, the garden is open to students from all fields of study as a green space for learning, working and relaxation. This is also demonstrated by the student workspace in the historic part of the garden, funded by the Green Office, which was inaugurated a few months ago. The new pavilion now expands these opportunities to include a weather-protected venue for events and gatherings, or simply invites visitors to relax.

TU Braunschweig’s “green calling card”

“Genuine enthusiasm for the natural sciences”: Professor Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig, at the opening of the new pavilion. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig

On 31 August 2026, the pavilion was officially opened in the presence of around 80 invited guests. Among them were representatives of the University Executive Board and the Dean’s Office, the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research, the Green Office and the Green School, as well as numerous students, members of the Friends’ Association and other supporters of the Botanical Garden. Due to the uncertain weather conditions, the ceremony initially took place in the Orangery. The guests then toured the new pavilion together.

The President of TU Braunschweig, Professor Angela Ittel, praised the Botanical Garden as one of the few places at the university where science, teaching, research, nature conservation and personal interaction come together in a particularly natural way. She said the garden was far more than just an exceptional collection of plants: it was the university’s “green calling card”. She also particularly emphasised the importance of the Green School as an extracurricular learning venue for children and young people:

“As a developmental psychologist whose research has focused on optimal learning conditions for children and young people, this aspect is particularly close to my heart. In an increasingly digital world, it is important to be able to experience nature up close, to touch it, smell it and, if possible, even taste it. That stays in the memory longer than any schoolbook, sparks curiosity and fosters understanding – or, if we’re lucky, even genuine enthusiasm for the natural sciences.”

Professor Ulrich Reimers, Chair of the Friends’ Association, at the official opening of the pavilion on 31 August 2026. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig

In their speeches, Michael Kraft, former Director of the Botanical Garden, Professor Ulrich Reimers, Chair of the Friends’ Association, and Professor Dietmar Brandes, Head of the Vegetation Ecology Research Group, highlighted the pavilion’s development, the importance of the Friends’ Association and the diverse roles of botanical gardens. The Flechtorf Modern Flute Orchestra provided a particularly festive atmosphere for the inauguration with its musical performances.

The project was made possible by a generous donation – a huge thank you for this! Equally heartfelt thanks go to the companies involved and to our colleagues in the Facilities Management department at Technische Universität Braunschweig. Special thanks are due to the Botanical Garden team, who supported the construction of the pavilion with great dedication and contributed significantly to the success of the inauguration.

Plans for 2027

The development of the new venue is not yet complete: plans for the coming year include the installation of an electricity supply and a Wi-Fi connection. This will ensure that the pavilion is equipped with the necessary technology to host presentations, digitally supported courses and hybrid formats in future.

The University is now invited to bring this special place to life – as a space for students, for new event formats, for collective reflection and for ideas on the sustainable development of TU Braunschweig.

The new pavilion in the Botanical Garden of TU Braunschweig can accommodate around 30 guests. Photo credits: Silja Klemenz/TU Braunschweig