Change of office at the ZT: Reinhard Schatke retires

Reinhard Schatke, a graduate engineer, began his career at the Bayreuth Financial Construction Office, where he also completed training for the advanced civil engineering administrative service. Schatke came to the University of Bayreuth just under ten years ago, on 1 October 2013. He first took over as head of the Real Estate and Building Management Department in Central Technology (ZT), and two years later he became head of ZT. In January 2021, he was able to celebrate 40 years in public service before retiring in May 2023.

During his time at Bayreuth University, Reinhard Schatke was involved in many construction projects. However, the new construction measures of the Polymer Nanostructures (PNS), Natural Sciences III (NW III) and TAO buildings deserve special mention. In addition, the Ecological-Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth owes Reinhard Schatke the implementation of the pathway extension (incl. the connection to the urban cycle and pedestrian network).

"I would like to express my sincere thanks to Reinhard Schatke for his constant support in all matters concerning new buildings, building maintenance, operating technology and much, much more. Together with his team, he has done a super job for the entire campus even in challenging times, such as the Corona crisis. As a valued colleague, I wish him all the best and, above all, continued good health for the next phase of his life, and I am pleased that he will continue to provide us with advice and professional support," says Provost Dr Nicole Kaiser on Reinhard Schatke's farewell.

Reinhard Schatke will now be succeeded by Gerald Weber, who will continue and complete the construction projects NW IV and FZA, which have already been started, and is already involved in the planning of the new building for the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In addition, many campus-shaping conversions due to the growth and age of the UBT and also the new building for the Faculty of Life Sciences at the Kulmbach campus are on Gerald Weber's agenda in the coming years. Weber, who has already been working at the University of Bayreuth since October 2022, was previously head of the Department of Construction and Technology at the St. Marien Hospital in Amberg for ten years, before which he worked at British American Tobacco in Bayreuth.

In addition to the aforementioned projects in structural engineering, the other tasks and responsibilities of Central Engineering will also keep Gerald Weber busy in the future. The comprehensive technical support provided by Central Engineering for the entire university covers a wide spectrum, ranging from technical support for research and teaching to responsibility for all infrastructure facilities. In detail, this includes the operation and organisation of the scientific workshops, operational technology and building services, but also building management and the coordination of rental matters, as well as the topic of occupational and operational safety in the broadest sense. "We are very pleased that we were able to win Gerald Weber for the management of Central Technology. Through his work as deputy in recent weeks, he has already familiarised himself very well with many topics and I am sure that with his expertise and experience he will master the diverse tasks well with the experienced team," says Kaiser.