The Hermann Rietschel Institute (HRI) of the Technical University of Berlin goes back to Rietschel's appointment to the Royal Technical University of Charlottenburg in 1885. It is the world's oldest university research institute in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning. 

A chronological sequence of the history of the HRI can be found here. More detailed information on the history of the HRI can be found in the following books:

• “Entwicklung von Heizungs- und Lüftungstechnik zur Wissenschaft, Hermann Rietschel, Leben und Werk“, Klaus W. Usemann, ISBN 3-486-26138-X
• 130 Jahre Hermann-Rietschel-Institut (1885-2015); PDF Document