B as in Bundesverwaltungsgericht

The Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court) is one of the five federal supreme courts of Germany. They are responsible for cases of administrative law, generally disputes between citizens and the state. They sit in the former Reichsgericht (Imperial Court of Justice) in Leipzig. The Bundesverwaltungsgericht was established on September 23 1952.

The building is the result of a competition in 1885 and it took the winners of the competition, Ludwig Hoffmann and Peter Dybwad, seven years to be built, from 1888 to 1895. The architecture combines late Italian Renaissance and French Barock. Between 1895 and 1945 the building was used for its original purpose to house the Reichsgericht.

One third of the building was destroyed during World War II. After the war the building was renovated and the Museum für bildende Künste (Museum for the Fine Arts) moved in in 1952 since their premises were mainly destroyed during the war. The museum showed an exhibition about the Reichstagsbrandprozess. Other rooms in the building were used by different institutions, such as the Archive of Saxony, the Geografic Institute and a synchronization studio.

In 1997 the decision was made to move the Bundesverwaltungsgericht to Leipzig. The building was again renovated between 1998 and 2001. Another upper floor was added on top of the roof to accommodate every employee of the Bundesverwaltungsgericht but it was built in a way that it would not destroy the outer appearance of the building.  In August 2002 the Bundesverwaltungsgericht finally moved into the building.

The entrance and the Großer Sitzungssaal are open for the public and can be visited. Furthermore, one room is dedicated to an exhibition about the former residents of the Reichsgerichtsgebäude.

Federal Administrative Court (ˈfed^ər^əl ədˈmɪnɪstrətɪv kɔ:t) – das Bundesverwaltungsgericht
federal supreme court (ˈfed^ər^əl su:ˈpri:m kɔ:t) – der Bundesgerichtshof
responsible (rɪˈspɒn(t)səbl̩) – verantwortlich
administrative law (ədˈmɪnɪstrətɪv lɔ:) –
dispute (dɪˈspju:t) – die Debatte, Streit
Imperial Court of Justice (ɪmˈpɪəriəl kɔ:t ) – das Reichsgericht
to establish (ɪˈstæblɪʃ) – etw gründen, eröffnen, bilden
competition (ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃ^ən) – der Wettbewerb
purpose (ˈpɜ:pəs) – der Grund, Zweck
to house (haʊz) – jdn unterbringen, beherbergen
to destroy (dɪˈstrɔɪ) – etw zerstören
fine arts (faɪn ɑ:ts) – die schönen Künste, bildende Künste
premises (ˈpremɪsɪz) – das Gebäude, Räumlichkeiten
exhibition (ˌeksɪˈbɪʃ^ən) – die Ausstellung
decision (dɪˈsɪʒ^ən) – die Entscheidung
to add (æd) – etw hinzufügen
roof (ru:f) – das Dach
to accommodate (əˈkɒmədeɪt) – jdn unterbringen, beherbergen, aufnehmen
employee (ɪmˈplɔɪi:) – der/die Angestellte, Mitarbeiter/in
appearance (əˈpɪər^ən(t)s) – das Aussehen, Ambiente
finally (ˈfaɪn^əli) – endlich, schließlich
to dedicate (ˈdedɪkeɪt) – sich etw widmen
resident (ˈrezɪd^ənt) – der/die Bewohner/in