The origin of the ARCADEON Science and economy - a special connection

At the beginning of the ARCADEON a competition was staged by the "Gesellschaft der Freunde der FernUniversität in Hagen" asking students of the department of architecture to come forward with their best ideas. Many budding young architects took part in the competition. 2 students of architecture at the Advanced Technical College of Dortmund received the award and were responsible for the design of the building.

The land North Rhine-Westphalia provided 7,6 million EURO, the city of Hagen acquired the property. The regional economy, represented by Douglas Holding AG, the Deutsche Bank AG, the Hagener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH, the Mark-E AG, the EUROPART Holding GmbH and the Wilhelm Wippermann GmbH, provided the remaining 5,1 million EURO. Thus nothing more stood in way of the house of science and further education. The official title of the ARCADEON was created.

The foundations of the Arcadeon were officially laid on the 1st July, 1997. 13th August, 1998 - just one year later - the Arcadeon`s destiny had begun. For the ceremonious opening, high-ranking representatives from politics and the economy were greeted: At the very top, Prime Minister Wolfgang Clement, the mayor at that time of the city Hagen, Dietmar Thieser, Dr. Jörn Kreke, at this time chairmen of the board of Douglas Holding AG and the rector of the FernUniversität in Hagen, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Helmut Hoyer.

Here with the collaboration of economics, science and politics a German exemplary project has been realised by a private public partnership. This joint venture guarantees further education at the highest level.