The university’s roots go back to 1878 and the founding of its predecessor, the Grand Duchy College of Building. In 1971, the university became a Fachhochschule (Polytechnical University), a new type of institution for higher public education established with the specific objective of narrowing the gap between the theoretical and industrial world. The university attained its present form and was raised to the status of Hochschule (University) by the State of Baden-Württemberg.