Handing over the keys: FiW moves into completely renovat-ed oil mill

For us at FiW, a new era is about to begin. After four decades as a tenant of RWTH Aachen University, we have moved into the heritage Ölmühle at Wildbach near Campus Melaten and are renting new office space here. We would like to pay tribute to the building owners and new landlords Kochs/Daniel Ölmühle GbR for their commitment and expertise in mastering the impressive refurbishment under great time pressure. Special thanks also go to our FiW colleagues from the secretariat, IT and technique Lina Pinna, Yazgül Cinar, Oliver Pötter and Christoph Mund for their commitment and clear mind during the hot relocation phase. We want to establish the Ölmühle as an open innovation hub for water management in NRW and look forward to your first visit to the new address “An der Ölmühle 4” in 52074 Aachen. Parking is available in our parking lot with access from Schurzelter Straße 41.

The first documented mention of the “upper Schurzelter mills” on the Wildbach below the Seven Springs dates back to the middle of the 13th century. First a grain mill, then a copper, paper and oil mill, the water at the Wildbach always played a decisive role, even when the “Färberei Fußgänger” (dye works) took over the building complexes in 1891 as part of the Aachen textile industry. Old photos show sedimentation tanks in which attempts were made to treat the waste water contaminated with dye liquor before it was discharged into the Wildbach. After various phases of extension and conversion, the factory was discontinued in 1992.

The buildings were left to decay for almost 30 years until Mr. Kochs and Mr. Daniel bought the property in 2020 with the aim of making the heritage buildings usable after an extensive refurbishment. By chance (or as the history of the oil mill) would have it, we, as the Aachen Water Research Institute, happened to come along to continue the history of water at the site. We can take credit for the fact that we recognized the potential of the decaying buildings during our first visit in November 2020, but also the expertise of its new owners, and decided to take a big step. At the beginning of 2022, FiW signed a lease for parts B+D of the building for 20 years until 2043. We are delighted that gaiac - Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment at RWTH Aachen University will also be moving into the building adjacent to FiW in the Ölmühle in January 2025.

Since its foundation in 1979, the FiW has been a tenant of RWTH Aachen University. Initially in Mies-van-der-Rohe Straße, the current location of the IWW and the imposing “Wasserbau-Halle”, then in the rooms of the former Aixtron building in Kackertstraße. At some point, it became too cramped there and the team grew, so we had to rent additional space “across the street” for our water management division. We have always been able to benefit from the favourable rental conditions that RWTH Aachen University has granted us as an affiliated institute - for which we have always been grateful.

RWTH's own need for space has increased in recent years, and the media for teaching in particular require more space in Kackertstraße. The move to privately rented premises was therefore not a free decision on our part, but became necessary due to RWTH's space requirements.