main building
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main building
The central or most important building of a complex consisting of several buildings, such as a university, a company, or a hospital.
Die Anmeldung für die Konferenz befindet sich im Foyer des Hauptgebäudes.
Registration for the conference is located in the foyer of the main building.
The word consists of 'Haupt-' (main) and 'Gebäude' (building). The prefix 'Haupt-' means 'most important' or 'central' and is very productive in German. If you know this pattern, you can also understand words like 'Hauptbahnhof' (main train station), 'Hauptstadt' (capital city), or 'Hauptstraße' (main street).
Wir treffen uns vor dem Haupteingang des Museums.
We'll meet in front of the museum's main entrance.
The use of the word 'Hauptgebäude' (main building) implies that there are other, usually smaller buildings, known as 'Nebengebäude' (outbuildings/annexes). It is typically used for universities, large companies, hospitals, or palace/castle complexes.
Die Bibliothek befindet sich in einem Nebengebäude hinter dem Hauptgebäude.
The library is located in an annex behind the main building.
Pay attention to the difference between 'in' with the dative and accusative. You are 'im Hauptgebäude' (in the main building; location, dative), but you go 'ins Hauptgebäude' (into the main building; direction, accusative).
Die Vorlesung findet im Hauptgebäude statt.
The lecture takes place in the main building.
headquarters
Hauptquartier is the central leadership office of an organization and primarily refers to its function. Hauptgebäude, by contrast, is the most important specific building within a complex. The leadership may be located in the Hauptgebäude, but the words do not refer to the same thing.
Im Hauptgebäude der Organisation befinden sich der Empfang und der große Sitzungssaal.
The organization’s main building houses the reception area and the large conference room.
Im Hauptquartier der Organisation werden alle regionalen Büros geleitet.
All the organization’s regional offices are managed from its headquarters.
