The polytechnic college

In 1837, the higher trade school moved into a building specially built for this purpose on the site of today's Kröpcke Centre. The building was destroyed during the Second World War. The architect Ernst Ebeling, who lived in Hannover, had designed the school building in the round arch style. The long side of the building faced Georgstraße. At that time, Georgstraße was the centre of the new Ernst-August-Stadt, which later became Hannover's business centre between the railway station and the old town.

In 1847, the institution and the building were renamed "polytechnic college". Increasing student numbers and large collections led to a lack of space. The number of engineers and architects in training increased rapidly, particularly because of Hannover's connection to the railway network. In 1854, the building was extended in the direction of today's Karmarschstraße. Various extensions and new buildings followed. In 1872, the building contractor Ferdinand Wallbrecht proposed a new school building on Humboldtstraße in the Calenberger Neustadt district. He intended to open up new roads between the Leineschloss and the main railway station across the school grounds. However, these plans were rejected. Instead, the college moved into the Welfenschloss, which had become vacant following the annexation of the Kingdom of Hanover by Prussia. A hotel moved into the former school building on Georgstraße.