Gerald Weber has been head of ZT since 1 May

"There are many parallels to my old job," says Weber. Before coming to Bayreuth, he was head of the Department of Construction and Technology at the St. Marien Hospital in Amberg for ten years. "But I was also looking forward to the many new challenges at the university." He says he enjoys working with people and is therefore looking forward to the diverse tasks at the University of Bayreuth.

The work in the ZT consists of two very different areas, he tells us. On the one hand, there is the day-to-day business, which cannot be planned, and on the other, long-term new construction and renovation projects. But of course the long-term projects are particularly exciting. In addition to the visible new buildings, such as the Research Centre for African Studies, planning for further new buildings and renovation measures is already underway in the background. Currently, for example, all the lamps are gradually being converted to LED. "This is also an aspect that pays into energy saving and sustainability," he says. In addition, photovoltaic arrays continue to be installed on the roofs of the university. "However, this is just a drop in the ocean." Because: the university is a very energy-intensive operation. There are areas that must consistently maintain the same temperature so that research can continue optimally there. "Whether it's heating in winter or cooling in summer, it all has to work."

Unlike his predecessor, Weber comes from a technical background. Schatke was an architect, Weber is a materials engineer. "It may well be that my focus is possibly somewhere else than Reinhard Schatke's," says Weber. "That's why I appreciate the fact that Mr Schatke is still on hand to advise us if necessary." He finds the combination of maintaining the existing building stock and helping to shape the future particularly exciting. "Especially through intelligent building and renovation concepts, we can do a lot for the carbon footprint."