State Secretary Dr Rolf Schmachtenberg, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, visited the Department of Architecture on the 9th of January. There, Mr Schmachtenberg met with Prof. Sabine Hopp, Head of the Inclusive City Lab_Smart and Inclusive City research group at the Department of Design and Urban Planning. The informal meeting included, among other things, an exchange in the context of Ms Hopp's role as a federal expert (since last year) for barrier-free construction and low-threshold and inclusive urban development. Ms Hopp reported that a network of experts in barrier-free planning and design has now been established with specialist colleagues in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Furthermore, Mr Schmachtenberg gained an insight into Ms Hopp's inclusive urban planning teaching and research as well as her practical construction and expert activities in this field. A tour of the department, with discussions with Prof. Dr Martin Knöll and students, rounded off Mr Schmachtenberg's flying visit.