Construction & Outlook

An important first step

The Ernemann Building is being renovated in accordance with heritage conservation principles and to improve its energy efficiency. The building works will safeguard the historic building, improve its energy efficiency and lay the groundwork for the museum’s future operations. Throughout the renovation, the Dresden Technology Collections will remain active as an institution and continue to develop.

• From November, work will begin on securing the escape and rescue routes within the building. In the first quarter of 2027, work will commence in the inner courtyard. To this end, the existing courtyard cellar ceiling will be completely dismantled and a site access road established from Junghansstraße. This work is scheduled to be completed by July 2027.
• This will be followed by energy-efficiency refurbishment and further work on the building. Specifically, around 2,300 square metres of roof area and 1,400 square metres of façade area, as well as the doors and around 600 windows, are to be refurbished or replaced in accordance with heritage conservation standards. A photovoltaic system on the roof is also planned.
• The 48-metre-high tower will be fitted with a second escape route. Furthermore, the fire alarm system will be replaced and the emergency lighting repaired.

However, the refurbishment is only the beginning: to ensure that the Dresden Technology Collections are fit for the future in terms of both content and space, the inner courtyard, infrastructure, exhibitions, laboratories and workshops must also be refurbished. Crucial funding for these next steps is still lacking.

A place to play, relax, marvel and discover

Alongside the refurbishment, planning for the ‘Garden of Sciences’ is continuing. From 2030 onwards, the inner courtyard in particular is to be redesigned and integrated into the museum’s offerings. Around five million euros have been earmarked for this in the budget from 2029/2030 onwards. The city is continuously exploring potential funding opportunities.

The Garden of Sciences is set to transform the inner courtyard of the Ernemann Building into a green space for experiences. Experimental and play stations will allow visitors to experience scientific and technological phenomena in the open air. This will create a place where people of all ages can discover, experiment and get to know the world around them anew together.

At the same time, the Garden offers space for relaxation, socialising and events. It is intended to link the Dresden Technology Collections with the urban environment and open up the building beyond its exhibitions. Its implementation is planned as a separate component of the development programme.

Experience science, understand technology, shape the future

In future, the Dresden Technology Collections aim to integrate the Science Centre and the Technical Museum even more closely. Original historical artefacts, interactive models and experiments bring together the history of technology, scientific phenomena, current research and everyday questions. In exhibitions, laboratories and workshops, visitors can not only discover and understand, but also experiment, create and develop new perspectives for themselves.

The energy-efficiency refurbishment creates important conditions for this, but is not sufficient on its own. Further funding is required for the renewal of the building’s infrastructure and the planned redesign of the exhibitions, laboratories and workshops. This funding has not yet been secured. For the Dresden Technology Collections to realise their vision for the future, additional support is needed from the political sphere, the business community and society at large.