In the location's words:

The Baukunstarchiv NRW in Dortmund secures and compiles estates from the fields of architecture and civil engineering. The results are presented in exhibitions and events that are freely accessible to the general public.

The building of the Baukunstarchiv NRW was opened back in 1875 - originally as the Oberbergamt. Since then, it has had an eventful history with significant phases of use and conversion. Although it is not officially listed as a historical monument, it is a historically significant building: after being destroyed during the Second World War, the building at Ostwall 7 was rebuilt using existing foundation walls and building materials. To this day, the building shows a wealth of traces of its former use, which have been deliberately preserved and can be discovered in the building.