The monumental administration building is located to the northwest of the old town, directly on the Pfaffenteich lake. The building was erected when the Grand Ducal administration moved from Ludwigslust to Schwerin between 1842 and 1845.
The monumental Grand Ducal Office Building is picturesquely situated on the Pfaffenteich pond, northwest of the old town. It was built between 1842 and 1845 under Grand Duke Paul Friedrich in order to relocate the administration of the sovereign's property to Schwerin.
The three-and-a-half-storey building, designed by Ludwig August Bartning in the classicist style, impresses with a 23-axis façade comprising a three-axis central risalit and two corner pavilions. It houses writing rooms, representative halls and official apartments in the corner pavilions. The adjoining courtyard used to have stables and a large garden.
The Grand Ducal Office Building is an important example of the administrative and architectural history of 19th century Schwerin. Over the course of time, various institutions moved into the building complex, and today the Diakoniewerk with its school for geriatric nursing is based there.
