About us
We hold true to our ultimate objective of offering young people a place to live with solid equipment and at fair prices.
Following the 1st World War most students – and especially those from working class families – lived in most difficult conditions. In this situation the WIHAST was founded in 1923 to economically support the working-class students of Austria.
Fair prices since 1923
Our history
Foundation of the WIHAST
Dormitory in the D´Orsay – alley 5
14 students were accommodated here at first and soon the number of beds were raised to 20. A canteen supplied 30 students a day with a cheap lunch and dinner.
1923
1923
Dormitory in the D´Orsay - alley closed due to decrepitude
Temporary equipment of a large-scale apartment for 20 students in a house on Bauernmarkt 1 in the 1st district of Vienna.
1926
1926
New Dormitory outbuilding Schloss Schönbrunn
Sublesee of “Kinderfreunde”.
40 students and an own canteen were accommodated in this building.
40 students and an own canteen were accommodated in this building.
1926
1926
Julius Tandler Heim
Dormitory for unmarried students opened in the 19th district of Vienna.
The dormitory in Schönbrunn was closed down.
The dormitory in Schönbrunn was closed down.
1928
1928
Opening of the Georg Weissel dormitory in the 9th district, Säulengasse 18
Accommodation for an additional 78 students. At this point the WIHAST supports in its dormitories approx. 140 students.
1929
1929
Rescission of WIHAST
Rescission of the WIHAST through the austrofascist regime.
The dormitories are taken over by the Akademikerhilfe
The dormitories are taken over by the Akademikerhilfe
1934
1934
Takeover of the dormitories
All dormitories are taken over by the German Student Union and the “Reichsstudentenwerk”
1938
1938
Revival of activities of WIHAST
Restitution of the dormitories in Billrothstraße and Säulengasse to the WIHAST.
1947
1947
Opening Wolkersbergenstraße
Opening of a new dormitory in Wolkersbergenstraße 170, 1130 Vienna (former town bar of the NSDAP). 6 dormitory beds are created.
1952
1952
Opening of the Carinthian Dormitory
WIHAST opened the Carinthian Dormitory in cooperation with the state of Carinthia.
Erlachgasse 68-70, 1100 Vienna, rooms for 82 students
Erlachgasse 68-70, 1100 Vienna, rooms for 82 students
1959
1959
Dr. Adolf Schärf Board
Foundation of the “Adolf Schärf Board for Dormitory Construction” in celebration of the 70th birthday of Dr. Adolf Schärf.
1960
1960
Opening of the student dormitory
WIHAST: Opening of the student dormitory in Hainburgerstraße 24a, 1030 Vienna. This dormitory offers rooms for 49 students.
1963
1963
Dr. Adolf Schärf dormitory opened
Dr. Adolf Schärf opens, only a few days prior to his death, the first Adolf Schärf dormitory in the 20th district of Vienna in the Lorenz Müller Gasse 1 with 220 beds.
1965
1965
Opening Pölzer Dormitory
WIHAST: Opening of the Pölzer Dormitory.
1200 Vienna, Adalbert Stifter Straße 28 / Burghardtgasse 23 with a total of 90 beds.
1200 Vienna, Adalbert Stifter Straße 28 / Burghardtgasse 23 with a total of 90 beds.
1967
1967
2nd Adolf Schärf Studentdormitory
Opening of the dormitory Vindobona located in Skodagasse 20 with a total of 232 beds, the first dormitory in Vienna without gender segregation. The building was financed through a cooperation with the states of Carinthia and Burgendland as well as the “Oskar Helmer Studentenförderungswerk” a student support network located in Lower Austria. The cultural office of the city of Vienna, the respective departments of the city magistrate and the “Haus des Buches” participated in the construction of Vindobona.
1969
1969
House Margareten
WIHAST: The house Margarethen with 97 beds is opened with the support of federal states of Carinthia, Burgenland and the “Oskar Helmer Studentenförderungswerkes” based in Lower Austria. Closure of the Pölzer Dormitory.
1971
1971
3rd Adolf Schärf Dormitory
Completion of the 3rd Adolf Schärf dormitory (House Panorama) in Brigittenauerstraße 224-228, 1200 Vienna. 542 beds and several communal spaces made available to students on 17 stories.
1973
1973
4th Adolf Schärf Dormitory
The 4th Adolf Schärf dormitory is opened in the Tendlergasse 12, 1090 Vienna with 282 beds.
1978
1978
64 beds in the 5th Adolf Schärf Dormitory
The 5th Adolf Schärf dormitory is opened in Hirschengasse, 1060 Vienna with 64 beds. At this address the main administration of the WIHAST is located today after it was moved in 1988 from Säulengasse to Hirschengasse.
1988
1988
Cooperation with the Akademikerhilfe
WIHAST: Together with the Akademikerhilfe the dormitory in Starkfriedgasse 15 in the 18th district of Vienna was opened. 70 beds are available for its residents.
1989
1989
389 beds in the 6th Adolf Schärf Dormitory
The Dr. Paul Schärf dormitory is opened in the Lorenz Müller Gasse 1a with 389 beds.
1994
1994
Handelskai 78 opened
WIHAST: Together with the Akademikerhilfe a new dormitory with 111 beds is opened at Handelskai 78, 1200 Vienna.
1996
1996
Forsthausgasse 2 - 427 new beds
The 7th Adolf Schärf dormitory with 427 beds is opened in the Forsthausgasse 2.
Dr. Schärf Board: Restoration of the dormitory in Lorenz Müller Gasse 1, 1200 Vienna is started.
Dr. Schärf Board: Restoration of the dormitory in Lorenz Müller Gasse 1, 1200 Vienna is started.
1998
1998
2 new dormitories & one reopening
WIHAST: Opening of the dormitory in Forsthausgasse 16 in the 20th district.
Opening of the Ernst Höger Dormitory in Wiener Neustadt.
Restoration of the dormitory in Säulengasse 18, 1090 Wien started
Board: Reopening of the dormitory in Lorenz Müller Gasse 1, 1200 Vienna.
Opening of the Ernst Höger Dormitory in Wiener Neustadt.
Restoration of the dormitory in Säulengasse 18, 1090 Wien started
Board: Reopening of the dormitory in Lorenz Müller Gasse 1, 1200 Vienna.
1999
1999
Reopening Georg Weissel Dormitory
WIHAST: After its restoration the Georg Weissel dormitory in Säulengasse 18, 1090 Vienna, is reopened.
2000
2000
Enlargement Wiener Neustadt
Opening of the second part of the dormitory in Wiener Neustadt – the dormitory now offers 224 beds.
Board: Closure and start of the restoration of the House Pan-orama in the 20th district – with 17 stories and more than 500 beds our largest dormitory.
Board: Closure and start of the restoration of the House Pan-orama in the 20th district – with 17 stories and more than 500 beds our largest dormitory.
2001
2001
Board: Reopening of House Panorama
2002
2002
Restitution of the Julius Tandler Dormitory
WIHAST: The Julius Tandler Dormitory in Billrothstraße 9 was closed forever and returned to the city of Vienna.
The construction of the 3rd part of the dormitory in Wiener Neustadt is started.
The construction of the 3rd part of the dormitory in Wiener Neustadt is started.
2003
2003
Restoration Hotel Anatol
Board: Restoration of Hotel Anatol
WIHAST: Opening of the 3rd part of the dormitory in Wiener Neustadt. Now with 336 beds.
WIHAST: Opening of the 3rd part of the dormitory in Wiener Neustadt. Now with 336 beds.
2004
2004
Ground-breaking ceremony St. Pölten
WIHAST: Ground-breaking ceremony for the dormitory in St. Pölten and small restoration in Hainburgerstraße 24a.
2005
2005
Restitution Erlachgasse & Restoration
Restitution of the house in Erlachgasse 70 to the Construction Cooperative and restoration of the floors FG16, offices HG23, energy grid SK20.
2006
2006
September: Opening St. Pölten
WIHAST: Opening of the dormitory in St. Pölten, Herzogenburgerstrasse with 122 beds.
several restorations in dormitories in Vienna
several restorations in dormitories in Vienna
2006
2006
Complete Restoration Tendlergasse
Board: Complete restoration of the sanitary installations in the T12 – 147 baths.
WIHAST: Construction begins for the 2nd part of the dormitory in St. Pölten.
WIHAST: Construction begins for the 2nd part of the dormitory in St. Pölten.
2008
2008
St. Pölten 2nd Part
Completion and opening of the 2nd part of the dormitory in St. Pölten.
Installation of a warm water pump system and a CHP in Campus Brigittenau.
Installation of a warm water pump system and a CHP in Campus Brigittenau.
2009
2009
Shared Apartment Lenaugasse
Restoration and opening of a shared appartment in Lenaugasse.
2012
2012
90 years of Wihast
Celebrating the 90 years founding jubilee of Wihast with a big event on Campus Brigittenau
2013
2013
Haus Tendlergasse gets refurbished
Haus Tendlergasse gets refurbished with entirely new furnishings.
2014
2014
Haus Dr. Paul Schärf gets refurbished
Haus Tendlergasse gets refurbished with a completely new type of furniture.
2017
2017
Adaption of the entrée of Campus Brigittenau
The old "porter´s lodge" was transformed into our new service center campus as a new service point for all residents. Also the entrée was reconstructed and was made available for students to spend a good time there.
2019
2019
100 Years of Wihast
The centennial celebration of the founding of our Wihast is marked by a grand ceremony on the Campus Brigittenau. The Mayor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Ludwig, is among the first to extend his congratulations.
2023
2023
Why WIHAST?
3200 beds
in Vienna, Wr. Neustadt and St.Pölten
During the years independent WIHAST associations were created in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz.
Together with the Adolf Schärf Board for Dormitory Construction the WIHAST administers today 16 dormitories with approximately 3200 beds in the cities of Vienna, Wr. Neustadt and St. Pölten.
The democratic principle of student self-administration, which has its roots in the founding time of the WIHAST association, is realised in every one of our dormitories.
Only through the collective actions of the students and the WIHAST we are able to continuously improve our dormitories. The WIHAST holds true to its ultimate objective of offering young people a place to live with solid equipment and at fair prices.
