iQ space Berlin – Center for Gene and Cell Therapies

With the iQ space, a new working environment for up to 900 people is being created in Berlin, which is a major hub for healthcare and life sciences. The building will be used by the new Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies – initiated by Bayer AG, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) – as well as by Bayer Co.Lab, among others. Designed as a startup incubator with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-certified production areas, the new building establishes a biotech ecosystem for innovative treatment approaches. At the iQ space, researchers will be working to develop new medicines – from the initial idea up to market maturity.

The iQ space Berlin combines research, development, and production of gene and cell therapies at the heart of the German capital. Geared towards interdisciplinary ways of working, the architecture focusses on the people who work in the building while making their research accessible to the surrounding community. This idea is supported by its transparent design that embodies the concept of ‘science on display’.

Situated at Nordhafen, the building engages in a direct dialogue with the city, the adjacent park, and the Bayer campus. Its cubic volume relates to its urban surroundings through the horizontally structured façade. Its transparent glazed base allows the building to interlock with the surrounding greenery. A projection towards the riverside promenade creates a sheltered area that provides space for a café, serving as a social meeting place. From this point, visitors enjoy views of the state-of-the-art technology in the second-floor laboratory area. 

The modern research world unfolds on the upper levels. A modular grid and the building’s simple basic shape allow for layouts adaptable to flexible uses that can be interconnected by shared areas extending across two stories. The integrated GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility provides researchers with a state-of-the-art environment to develop and test innovative therapies under the highest quality and safety standards. It ensures a seamless path from laboratory concept to clinical application.

Folded façade elements lend an abstract appearance to the building while integrating functional equipment. Depending on the orientation of the building, different projections and angles are created, which help to optimize sun shading. Photovoltaic panels wrap around the technical installations on the roof and harness solar energy. Toward the embankment, the façade expands into balconies that provide a lounge area for researchers with a view across Nordhafen.

Surrounded by a riverside park with access to the water, the iQ space interweaves science, nature, and the city to create an inviting place with a distinct identity that is open to employees and visitors alike. It makes a decisive contribution to re-establishing Germany as a location for the development and production of innovative therapies.