30 years of the collapse of the Red Tower

Thursday, August 7, marks the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the Red Tower on Löbdergraben. The city of Jena remembers the four construction workers who lost their lives during renovation work and the four others who were injured. One of the victims was a 15-year-old apprentice.

"Our sympathies go out to the families of the victims. This tragic event remains deeply anchored in the collective memory of our city. The protection of life and safety is therefore always our top priority. This is precisely why it is essential to rely on careful specialist planning, close monitoring and continuous inspection for construction projects, even if this involves bureaucratic effort, which is often the subject of public criticism,"

says Mayor Benjamin Koppe.

The Red Tower, a medieval fortified tower from the 13th century, suddenly collapsed in 1995 during renovation work. The cause was structural failure within the historic masonry - in conjunction with static interventions that turned out to be fatal in retrospect. The construction project had been carried out by an external company at the time.

In the course of the legal proceedings in 1999, it was established that the main responsibility lay with a structural engineer who had since died. The city administration was not directly involved in the planning or construction management.

In 1999 and 2000, the Red Tower was rebuilt under strict monument preservation requirements and with modern safety measures.

The reconstruction of the Red Tower not only returned a piece of the city's identity, but also created a visible symbol of remembrance.