MUK@OWA

A new university campus is underway

The MUK is expected to move to the Otto Wagner Areal (OWA) in 2030/31. The former hospital grounds, which feature 34 Art Nouveau pavilions protected under heritage law and surrounded by parkland, are to be revitalised as a science and culture campus. The project is also set to set new standards in energy technology. The MUK will be the anchor tenant and has been using Project Pavilion 10 since the summer of 2025.

Teaching, learning and living in one location

In March 2025, Mayor Dr Michael Ludwig announced plans to establish a university campus for the MUK at the OWA. In June 2025, he reaffirmed this plan to the Vienna City Council, demonstrating his clear commitment to the MUK as the only university in Vienna.

With the new location, the MUK will not only gain new premises for teaching, research and artistic practice, but also an opportunity for student accommodation, which will benefit the university and the local community. This creation of a genuine campus setting will optimise study conditions for students from all institutes and degree programmes. The historic pavilions, surrounded by greenery, offer an inspiring environment for the students' artistic work.

Moreover, the historic building complex is being adapted with environmentally friendly technologies such as geothermal energy and photovoltaics. This makes it a flagship project within Vienna's climate strategy and its 2040 climate targets.

Moderated planning phase

For MUK, this represents a genuine process of change, which is not just a matter of moving to a new location, but also of further developing its self-image as a university. This transition towards a campus where teaching, learning and living converge will have a lasting impact on the daily life of the MUK community.

The next stage, which is already underway, involves drawing up a comprehensive spatial and functional plan for the MUK pavilions at the OWA. This marks the start of the actual planning phase for the MUK's relocation.

Over the next few months, a spatial function concept will be developed — a kind of 'blueprint in words' for the future location. Future users are actively involved in a large-scale internal participation process, enabling their expertise, requirements and working methods to be incorporated directly. This will provide a clear picture of how teaching, learning, rehearsals, work, and cooperation can function on the new campus.

Project Pavilion 10

The MUK will utilise 15 pavilions, thereby revitalising a large part of the area. Alongside the MUK, targeted settlements from the fields of science, education, art, culture and social affairs will be established.

Since summer 2025, Pavilion 10 has been used as an MUK project pavilion.