Happy 25th! Open Campus Day celebrates 25 years of Constructor University with a bold look to the future

It was a celebration 25 years in the making! On September 19, Constructor University honored its 25th anniversary by opening its doors to the public, media, local and international dignitaries, alumni, students and staff for a day of discovery, community and celebration. Open Campus Day saw the international campus in Bremen North transformed into a celebration of human knowledge and ingenuity, with interactive lab tours, a full schedule of science lectures from faculty, a family fun zone, scavenger hunt, and formal gala, all capped off with a brilliant display of fireworks to end the evening.

The event showcased the unique value that Constructor University has contributed to Germany's higher education system over the course of more than two decades, as a private, international university committed to advancing knowledge, science and technology through interdisciplinary research and intercultural exchange. A full day of activities across campus honored the vision and legacy of the university's first twenty-five years while also previewing the bold course it is charting for the future.

"The next 25 years will demand decisions that matter—for Constructor University, for science, and for the global communities we serve," said University President and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov. "Our greatest advantage is that we are not a stand-alone university. We are connected to a greater Constructor ecosystem that bridges knowledge, research, technology and industry. This infrastructure will be integral to carrying our university forward to the next 25 years, building upon the legacy of the Constructors who came before us."

From open labs to open lectures

Attendees were given a first-hand glimpse of the university's leading-edge science and tech research through guided tours and interactive exhibits in the robotics, 3D-printing, life science and natural science labs. A full schedule of science lectures from Constructor faculty offered insights into a host of topics ranging from the competitive world of high-speed autonomous car racing, to mind-reading for AI, the chemistry of chocolate, and how the molecular mechanics of photosynthesis are informing the solar cells of tomorrow.

A pair of guided tours also gave history buffs the opportunity to literally delve deep into the site's past transformation from military base to higher-learning campus, with participants descending underground into a real military bunker and walking through the original command and communications rooms.

Welcoming the world

True to its international character, Open Campus Day became a gathering point for dignitaries, leaders and alumni from around the world. Rice University President Reginald Desroches traveled from Houston, Texas to deliver a speech at the evening gala, acknowledging the shared history and special relationship the two institutions have shared since Bremen mathematician Heinz-Otto Peitgen first approached Rice University professor Raymond "Ronnie" Wells Jr. About an opportunity for Rice to help establish a new, international university campus being built in Bremen.

"Wells and his partners in Bremen made a deliberate decision to think boldly about what a new university could be," said Desroches. "The ambition was not to export an institution; it was to exchange ideas," said Desroches. "We are honored to be part of your history. We are proud of what you've built, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship and to seeing what Constructor builds next."

The Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay also delivered a keynote at the gala and shared his gratefulness to be visiting Bremen. "Like millions of children, I first heard about Bremen in kindergarten" said Tobgay, who fondly recalled his teacher reading the story of the Brementown musicians to his class. "I followed their journey with rapt attention and interest, but I was always disappointed that they didn't made it to the city. And so as I promised myself I would visit Bremen one day, and here I am," he added with a smile. "55 years later, but a promise kept."

Prime Minister Tobgay commended the bold vision and ambition behind Constructor, drawing a parallel to the small Himalayan nation's own ambitious vision to develop Gelephu Mindfullness City, a planned community that seeks to balance economic prosperity with natural harmony and wellbeing.

Constructor University and Bhutan signed an MOU earlier this year to partner on advancing digital education both in Bhutan and beyond. Tobgay was also celebrating his own birthday in parallel with the university that day, and brought a Bhutanese birthday tradition to campus by leading a tree-planting ceremony.

More than 85 university alumni returned to campus for Open Campus Day, which coincided with the university's 2026 homecoming event. Traveling from Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, the UK, Chile, Canada and the USA, homecoming alumni engaged in various events including the official re-opening of the Alumni Path, a friendly football match, and "From Pioneers to Possibilities: 25 Years and Beyond"—a special panel discussion focusing on the history and future of the university.

A flare for the future

As evening descended, hundreds of attendees gathered for a 25th anniversary gala honoring the university's past, present and future. Guests included current and past university leadership, faculty and staff, alumni, and distinguished guests from the academic, political and business communities of Bremen and beyond.

Open Campus Day officially came to an end with a vibrant fireworks display lighting up the skies over the Campus Green, illuminating 25 years of academic and human excellence and offering a brilliant glimpse of bigger, brighter things to come.