In 1888, the red-brick building was constructed by the Reichswehr to serve as a garrison laundry. At that time, a large military hospital was located on the neighbouring site (now Fort Malakoff and the Hyatt Hotel). To the south of the building was a station on the Hessenbahn railway line, and what is now the Römerschiff Museum served as a locomotive shed.
In 1932, the building was sold to Industrie- und Lehrwerkstatt eGmbH. Apprentices from Mainz’s major companies (Stadtwerke Mainz, Siemens, Dyckerhoff, Kalle-Albert, etc.) were trained here. It was one of the first inter-company training centres in Germany.
In 1976, the City of Mainz acquired the building, and Industrie- und Lehrwerkstatt eGmbH moved to another part of the city. A Federal Garden Show was planned in cooperation with the City of Wiesbaden, but the plans were not implemented.
In 1981, parts of the building were leased to the Mainz Cultural Centre. Cultural activities began with theatre, music and cabaret events. The cultural programme was expanded further each year.
In 2015, the KUZ had to close for renovation. Until the end of 2015, a diverse cultural programme took place within the walls of this industrial monument. The KUZ was a regular meeting place for music fans and dance enthusiasts, but also for young children and their parents.
In 2018, following a three-year renovation break, the KUZ reopened in its former glory and with a new charm. The new KUZ also offers a diverse range of content across different genres through various formats.
