The city flocked to the University City
On Thursday, King Frederik officially inaugurated the University City at a closed event. On Friday, however, the entire city was invited in for a big street party, which ended with a TV-2 concert at the University Square.
On Thursday, the University City was inaugurated at a closed event for invited guests in the City Auditorium, where King Frederik performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Look, that’s the king over there!”
On Friday, however, things were more relaxed as the doors to the University City were thrown wide open, and everyone was invited in for a street party on the red-brick streets. Featuring concerts, lectures, tours, and open house events. And ice cream and popcorn.
From the main stage at the University Square, Associate Professor of Musicology Jens Johansen and two music students led a sing-along that had the audience joining in on Danish classics like 'Sommervise' and 'Forårsdag' by Danish singer-songwriter Anne Linnet.
Around the University City, several other musical performances awaited. Inside the Department of Economics and Business Economics, the band Omvændt filled the foyer with electronic indie rock.
Further into the department's hallways, students sat in groups, dutifully studying for exams, while guests who could easily have been their parents or grandparents curiously sniffed around. At Konverterbar, the usual Friday bar crowd had clearly been swapped for a more seasoned clientele.
In addition to curious Aarhus residents who wanted to take a closer look at the new city district, many former employees at the municipal hospital and Aarhus University had also found their way to the University City.
Among them was Aase Pedersen, who began her days at AU as an office assistant and, in 1987, went full-time as a joint union representative for the university's technical and administrative employees (TAP) until 2018. As a member of the Main Liaison Committee (HSU), she was involved in the very initial discussions regarding the purchase of the former municipal hospital. She has since followed the process – and is very satisfied with the result:
"It is really beautiful and of high architectural quality – and of international class," said Aase Pedersen, who believes that the new campus can position the university better in the race to attract international researchers.
However, Aase Pedersen also had a suggestion for the university, if it wants to match the American campus-based universities:
"AU can take over the stadium in Vejlby when AGF moves - then we can have a football team," she laughed, adding that a daycare centre on campus might also be a great addition that could help attract international research talents.
Another person who has been looking forward to the opening of the University City is Ebbe Stender Hansen, who is a senior hospital physician in the departments of orthopaedic surgery and spine surgery. He worked at the former municipal hospital until it moved to Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby, in northern Aarhus, where he is now a senior hospital physician.
"It’s turned out fantastically beautiful," said Ebbe Stender Hansen, who had visited the former hospital wards that used to connect to the emergency room on his tour of the University City.
“I was also curious to see how the four incredible operating rooms we used to have, which were completely without daylight, are used today. But sadly, I couldn't seem to get access to them.”
During his time as a senior hospital physician at the municipal hospital, Ebbe Stender Hansen had a particularly prominent patient on the operating table. It was Stender Hansen who, back in 2003, operated on Queen Margrethe for osteoarthritis in her back.
As the workday came to a close on Friday, crowds filled the streets and square in the University City, and at 5:00 p.m., the mystery concert act was unveiled. The band TV-2 stepped out onto the stage. In true fashion, accompanied by the tunes of 'Bornholm, Bornholm, Bornholm', after which they played 'Kærligheden overvinder alt'.
“Welcome to the opening of the University City – hereinafter referred to as 'the City',” Steffen Brandt announced.
This text is machine translated and post-edited by Mie Skov Jeppesen.