The University City opens with a street party

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics has already been here for a long time alongside AU IT and Kitchen. At the turn of the year, staff from Aarhus BSS (Business and Social Sciences) moved from Fuglesangs Allé to the University City, and the many BSS students followed suit on a bitterly cold day in February. So, there has long been a buzz of activity around the red buildings and brick paths on AU’s new campus. 

BSS students take over the University City: It’s going to be good 

But the weather is now more suitable for celebrating, and the opening of the University City will be marked during two days in May, starting with an official inauguration on 21 May presided over by King Frederik. The entire city is invited to a street party the following day, which is free and open for everyone, but registration is required. 

Music on three stages

There will be musical performances on three different stages. On the main stage in the central University Square, there will be an opening concert at 1 p.m featuring communal singing led by Associate Professor of Musicology Jens Johansen, who was the conductor of the Aarhus-based choir Vocal Line for 35 years, alongside composer and Associate Professor of Musicology Marie Koldkjær Højlund, who is also known as KH Marie and has been a member of the band Nephew. 

According to the programme, there will later be a concert on the same stage from 5 p.m to 6 p.m featuring a “secret artist from Aarhus”. 

Additionally, on the two other stages – the North Stage between Kitchen and Partnerhuset, and the Light Stage in the foyer in front of the Department of Economics and Business Economics – there will be musicians with links to musicology at Aarhus University. Namely Maja Ahlmann and Kaspar Tinley, as well as the bands Musvidderne, OMVÆNDT, Albatrods, and UFINT.

Guided tours and talks

At the opening ceremony, there will also be guided tours of the new campus, as well as open-house events at the Department of Economics and Business Economics, the Department of Management, the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Partnerhuset, Kitchen, and at the student halls in the former patient hotel and nurses’ dormitory. 

Throughout the University City, visitors will also be able to attend a wide range of speed talks given by researchers from Aarhus University, entrepreneurs from Kitchen, and experts from the construction industry. For instance, you can hear Michael Svarer, professor of economics and former chief economic adviser, speak about the Danish economy amid geopolitical turmoil, and Luise Fabian, professor of philosophy and history of ideas, discuss the university’s role as a creator of knowledge. You can also find out more about how music can be used as medicine, how enzymes can help break down plastic, how to create a beautiful wild garden, and learn more about mindfulness. 

The opening party is being hosted by Aarhus University, the Aarhus University Research Foundation, and FEAS. FEAS owns the buildings in the University City and has, in collaboration with Aarhus University, been responsible for developing the former municipal hospital into a university campus. Aarhus University rents the buildings from FEAS.

This text is machine translated and post-edited by Mie Skov Jeppesen.