Architecture competition for the joint campus of Charité and TU Berlin decided

Prof. Lauster (left, TU Berlin) and Prof. Thiel (Charité) present the architectural model of the new research building, which is to be located on the Virchow campus. (© TU Berlin/PR/Philipp Arnoldt)

1. Price: Model (© Hans-Joachim Wuthenow)

1. Price: Perspective Campus (© HDR, Düsseldorf)

1. Price: Site plan (© HDR, Düsseldorf)

The strategic partnership between Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Technical University of Berlin continues to take shape: The winning design of the urban planning ideas and implementation competition for the joint Bio-Medical Technology Campus has now been decided. The jury awarded the first prize to the architectural firm HDR and the landscape architecture firm mk Landschaft. On the site at Seestraße in Berlin-Wedding, medical professionals, scientists, and engineers will research topics in oncology, immunology, and regenerative medicine. The core of the campus will be the new science building "The Simulated Human".

The current competition focused on an urban planning concept for the Bio-Medical Technology Campus and the new research building "The Simulated Human". In April 2018, this was recommended by the Science Council for funding amounting to 34 million euros. The federal government and the state of Berlin will finance the construction equally within the framework of the research building program at universities. The building is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Participants in the competition were required to submit convincing urban planning and open space concepts for the approximately 11,800-square-meter site. These should be designed efficiently with regard to inner-city land resources and allow for adjustments to future needs. Additionally, a location for the new research building Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT) of Charité, which is already in planning, had to be considered.

For the research building "The Simulated Human" with a usable area of 3,150 square meters, an economical design of high architectural and functional quality was sought. It should meet the requirements of innovative research buildings with attractive communication spaces and serve as a lighthouse to shape the future campus.

In a preliminary selection process, 21 participants were chosen, and 18 submissions were received. The jury awarded the first prize to the architectural firm HDR and the landscape architecture firm mk Landschaft. Regarding the designs, the jury stated: "The project convinces in the urban planning foundation of the parts as an integrated ensemble as well as in the architectural formulation of a flexible and communicative working environment with a confident and integrable expression." The jury unanimously recommended the work awarded the first prize for further development and realization.

Overall, the jury decided as follows:

1st Prize, 70,000 Euros
Architects HDR, Düsseldorf, and landscape architects mk Landschaft, Munich

2nd Prize, 40,000 Euros
Architects Thomas Müller Ivan Reimann Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, Berlin, and landscape architects Brummell Landschaftsarchitekten, Berlin

3rd Prize, 25,000 Euros
Architects ARGE erchinger wurfbaum | SCHMIEDER.DAU, Berlin, and landscape architects Holzwarth Landschaftsarchitektur, Berlin

Two commendations, each 12,000 Euros
Architects kleyer.koblitz.letzel.freivogel architekten, Berlin, and landscape architects Hahn Hertling Von Hantelmann Landschaftsarchitekten, Berlin
Architects Glass Kramer Löbbert bda – Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, Berlin, and landscape architects bbz landschaftsarchitekten berlin gmbh

An exhibition will showcase the designs

The awarded works will be on display from January 31 to February 17, 2019, in the foyer of the 21st floor of the Charité Bettenhaus Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, 10117 Berlin. The exhibition is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.