From the foundations to the solar panels on the roofs: the HSNL team, led by head Astridt Raaber and architect Stephan Kutter, is setting the THWS buildings on a course for the future.
Published on 27 July 2026
Whilst we study or work at THWS, we take the buildings, rooms, and energy for granted. Everyday life runs its course automatically; we don’t question our surroundings. At least not until something goes wrong. This is where the Department of Sustainability and Property Management – HSNL for short – comes into play.
The HSNL takes a comprehensive look at THWS: from energy consumption and space planning right through to the needs of students and staff. Head Astridt Raaber always has one goal in mind. "Our vision is for the entire university to be recognised as a sustainable institution, and for the whole THWS family to be able to look upon it with a sense of pride."
Two become one: construction projects and sustainability go hand in hand
Whether it’s the hydrogen technology laboratory building or the planning of a new daycare centre – this relatively new THWS service is behind many of the visible and invisible changes at THWS. The HSNL has only been in existence since January 2025. Until then, construction and sustainability projects were managed separately.
Astridt Raaber has been at THWS for 26 years and has witnessed its development first-hand. Until 2018, she worked in the Property Management Unit, which primarily oversaw construction projects. Gradually, the focus there shifted increasingly towards sustainability. Eventually, the unit was incorporated into the Sustainability Department. “I’ve simply grown with it,” says Raaber of the transition. Today, the sustainable focus of her work is indispensable: “For me personally, sustainability simply means using resources wisely so that we can ensure a balanced future for the next generations.”
The merger of the two administrative units into a single THWS service was only the first step. This was accompanied by a fundamental change: since 2023, THWS has been able to carry out construction projects independently. The Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act introduced an enabling clause to this effect. Previously, the state building authorities were responsible, but they were often working at full capacity. Bavarian higher education institutions are now permitted to carry out their own construction work, provided they have the necessary resources. THWS seized this opportunity and has strengthened the HSNL’s staff. The team now comprises two architects, a climate protection manager, colleagues from administration and engineering, and student assistants.
The daycare centre project: when students help shape the design
The importance of students to the development of THWS is demonstrated by the daycare centre project in which Stephan Kutter was involved. Whilst studying architecture here, his study group was given a challenging assignment: to design a daycare centre for THWS. The courtyard on Münzstraße, where three old pavilions stand, seemed the ideal location. “It’s actually a shame to knock them all down,” thought the students. So they developed a concept in the spirit of ‘urban mining’: turning three into one. One pavilion was to be refurbished, and together with the resulting green space, a nursery for around 80 children was to be created.
The concept impressed the THWS management. The Johanniter organisation expressed an interest in running the centre. Then the question arose: who would take the students’ design forward? And so it came to pass that Kutter had a job interview at the HSNL last summer. He was initially hired as a student assistant and, after graduating, as a permanent member of staff. Together with a colleague, Kutter revised the design. Instead of two storeys, the daycare centre is now to have just one. He explains that this fits in better with the surrounding buildings and is more cost-effective. But above all, the daycare centre and nursery groups will benefit from everything being on one level.
“For me, social sustainability in building design means taking the users’ needs into account right from the start,” emphasises Stephan Kutter. This creates spaces that are designed to function for the long term. The revised concept has now been submitted to the City of Würzburg, which is assessing the need for it and the funding required.
Hydrogen and photovoltaics: the energy transition on campus
Whilst the daycare centre is still in the planning stage, the new Hydrogen Technology Centre on the Ledward Campus in Schweinfurt is already visible to all. The Hydrogen and Process Engineering degree programme will be housed there in modern research and teaching facilities covering over 1,000 square metres. The building is being fitted out by the HSNL in collaboration with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and was officially opened in May 2026.
“In the energy sector, we want to become as self-sufficient as possible in order to improve our carbon footprint in the long term,” explains Raaber. That is why a solar panel system was installed on the new hydrogen technology centre building right from the start. Further photovoltaic systems are currently being installed at the Ignaz Schön Campus in Schweinfurt and at the Sanderheinrichsleitenweg Campus in Würzburg.
Stronger together
“There is probably no department, no faculty, and no organisational unit at THWS with which we haven’t already collaborated on some issue or other,” says Astridt Raaber. The HSNL operates as a THWS-wide network and also works closely with external bodies such as building authorities, public administrations, and architectural and engineering firms. For all construction projects, the HSNL must reconcile many different requirements: the wishes of the users, legal requirements, and sustainability goals – whilst always keeping the financial constraints in mind.
Alongside climate protection, social sustainability is key: how comfortable do people feel on campus, and are their needs being taken into account? This is leading to concrete changes, ranging from bicycle repair stations and unisex toilets to parent-and-child parking spaces. At the same time, the HSNL is working with the university management to develop a long-term sustainability strategy, which sets out targets for the coming years.
The green thread leads to open doors
Students and staff can contact the HSNL at any time with their ideas and concerns. “No idea is too small to be voiced,” emphasises Raaber. The THWS service sees itself as an open point of contact, there to listen, advise and – where possible – also implement projects. Whether it’s about sustainable improvements on campus or social initiatives: anyone who wants to make a difference will find support here.
So, in a nutshell, what does the HSNL do? It is the common thread – or rather, the green thread – that runs through building plans and the way we interact with one another. By engaging in dialogue with all areas of THWS, the department is making sustainable development at THWS a reality, step by step. Or, as Astridt Raaber puts it: “A higher education institution that future generations can rely on with a clear conscience.”
