Specialist Foundation Construction Techniques Used in the Reconstruction of the University Library ``Bibliotheca Albertina,'' in Leipzig, Germany

The historic "Bibliotheca Albertina", built between 1885 and 1891 and situated in the centre of Leipzig, is one of the most beautiful landmarks in this great city of commerce renowned for its trade fairs. In the last two weeks of the Second World War the building was badly destroyed by bombs. Under the government of East Germany, several attempts to reconstruct the library failed. It was not until 1990, immediately after the reunification of Germany, that plans for the reconstruction finally took shape and construction works could begin. A variety of specialist foundation techniques was used on the project, such as secant and soldier pile walls, jet grout underpinning, temporary and permanent tie-backs, grouted deep soft gel and high-level horizontal base cut-offs, and micro piles to protect the base against uplift. The reconstructed and renovated library building was handed back to the University of Leipzig, founded in 1543, in an official opening ceremony on October 24th. 2002, the 111th. anniversary of the Library's original inauguration.