Construction begins on a modern research campus in Berlin-Adlershof

In Berlin-Adlershof, the new construction of GBD 149 for the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is underway, which will provide excellent research conditions for its employees. The Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks (BImA) and Federal Construction Baden-Württemberg are jointly building modern laboratories for eleven specialized fields, including workshops with crane systems, as well as offices for administration, together with their partners. The new building is located in close proximity to numerous non-university research institutions and the natural sciences campus of Humboldt University. Construction work has now started.

The excavation work for the foundation pit is expected to last until the beginning of September. After that, the concrete pouring for the basement will take place. In March, the sheet piling will be installed, and in April and May, the base slab will be created as the lower boundary of the foundation pit. The handover of the building to BAM is planned for 2029.

Research and testing for safety in technology and chemistry

The new building is necessary because many of the buildings, facilities, and laboratories currently used by BAM date back to the founding era and no longer meet the high standards required for contemporary research. At the scientific and technical federal higher authority, more than 1,500 employees work on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to ensure safety in technology and chemistry. They develop new safety standards that are incorporated into national and international laws and regulations and advise the federal government on matters such as the safe energy transition and other important future issues. The focus is always on the protection of people, the environment, and property.

Sustainable new construction

BAM aims to optimize the working environment for its employees with the campus. The newly created spaces are designed to foster innovation and creativity, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of their research activities. Sustainability aspects play an important role during construction and in the later operation: planted courtyards and green roofs of the new building contribute to a better urban climate, and photovoltaic systems generate renewable energy from sunlight. Silver certification according to the Sustainable Building Assessment System (BNB) is being pursued for the laboratory building and the outdoor areas.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

The new building is being constructed within the framework of an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach with a new contractual model of a multi-party agreement: The BImA as the client and Federal Construction Baden-Württemberg as the client representative are working from the outset with Burckhardt Architektur (project planning/architecture), Buro Happold (M&E planning), W. Markgraf (extended shell construction), Rud. Otto Meyer Technik (M&E execution), and Apleona R&M (interior fit-out) in a collaborative interdisciplinary team. The early collaboration between planning and execution aims to ensure the timely and cost-effective realization of the construction project.

This collaborative model for public construction projects is already widely used in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Finland and is gaining importance in Germany as well.


For further information about the growth industries, economic development, business and technology support for companies, investors and scientific institutions in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben, 02|20|2025 | “Construction begins on a modern research campus in Berlin-Adlershof”)