(1781-1841)
One of Schinkel's works dominates the Potsdam inner city: the Nikolai Church. Its construction began in 1830.
In 1799, Schinkel was one of the first students at the Architectural Academy, newly established by Frederick William III. Already in 1800–01 he had drawn and carried out his first design: the Pomona Temple next to the (not yet existing at the time) Belvedere on the Pfingstberg Hill in Potsdam.
In 1810, on recommendation of Wilhelm von Humboldt, Schinkel became a Prussian civil servant. In 1815 he was appointed Chief Planner. In 1820 he was appointed as professor at the Architectural Academy. In 1830 he became Chief Director of Construction and in 1838 Supreme Director of Public Building.
He supervised restoration and construction projects and thus became the founder of a policy of state preservation of historic buildings and monuments in Prussia.
His works in Berlin include the Neue Wache (New Guardhouse), the Schauspielhaus (Theatre) at the Gendarmenmarkt Square and the Old Museum.
Although the Nikolai Church in Potsdam had been consecrated in 1837, it was completed by Friedrich August Stüler (1800-1865) only in the year 1850.
Other buildings by Schinkel in Potsdam are a barracks in the Jägerallee Nrs. 10-12 (1826-1828), residential buildings in the Yorckstraße Nrs. 3 and 4 (1822/23) and the "Schinkel Hall" at the Schiffbauergasse (1822) among others.
