On August 1, 1624, the foundation stone was laid for the new “Collegium Academicum Viennense Societatis Jesu”, which brought about a radical reorganization of the old university district.
With the “Pragmatic Sanction“ of 1623 Emperor Ferdinand II had transferred teaching at the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology to the Jesuits. A new Academic College and church were built on the site of the old Duke's College and several bursars. In addition to the church, there were lecture halls, a library, an observatory and a refectory as well as classrooms for the Latin school, living and utility rooms, stables and a representative hall for meetings, festive occasions and theater performances.
Between 1623 and 1655, the medieval university and student houses were demolished and the magnificent Jesuit College was rebuilt. The completion of the Old Assembly Hall marked the end of the early Baroque building work. The building complex was completely renovated by 2022 and reopened as the “Campus Academy” of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
