The Faculty 2 and the Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP) are mourning for the former holder of the Chair of Building Physics. He passed away on January 24, 2025 at the age of 86. Karl Gertis dedicated his entire professional life to research and teaching in the field of building physics. While only a few people were even aware of this discipline 50 years ago, today it is an indispensable part of planning, building and renovation. The first oil crisis of the 1970s, increasing environmental pollution, but also higher quality standards for buildings brought building physics issues into focus. Karl Gertis recognized these signs of the times early on and, with the first chair for building physics at a German university, he established the research and specialist field not only in this country.
After studying at the Technical University of Munich, Karl Gertis completed his doctorate at the University of Stuttgart, where he habilitated in 1972. In 1974, he was appointed full professor of building physics and building materials science at the University of Essen. From 1984 to 2007, he was a full professor of building physics at the University of Stuttgart and was also Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP until 2003. His research activities covered all areas of building physics, both on fundamental phenomena and on solutions ready for application.
As a building physicist with heart and soul, who supervised 55 doctoral theses and around 200 diploma theses, he was an esteemed university lecturer who knew inimitably how to transfer his enthusiasm for building physics to his students. His open and scientifically curious personality rubbed off on those around him; he inspired and encouraged people. Karl Gertis was internationally recognized for his commitment with several honorary doctorates in engineering and technical sciences, as a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Karl Gertis devoted the little free time he had to his creative side. One of these, he often said, could have become his profession: music. The accomplished trombonist and passionate alphorn player composed over a hundred of his own works, the performances of which were always very well received. With his professional excellence and his appreciative manner, Karl Gertis was a formative role model. He advised us, enriched us with ideas, encouraged and inspired us. We thank him for this and will continue his life's work with great respect.