© Berit Kraushaar / FVB
Around 100 guests attended the ceremony at which Dr Ina Czyborra, the Senator for Science, Health and Care for the State of Berlin, officially opened the new building. The federal government and the State of Berlin funded the construction of the new building with 12 million euros for IGB. Freie Universität Berlin financed 12 million euro contribution from its own resources.
The new collaborative building is located at Königin-Luise-Straße 28–30 on the Dahlem Research Campus of Freie Universität Berlin. This location will strengthen the exchange between university and non-university research and the training of early-career researchers. At the same time, the building fosters an environment in which new scientific questions can emerge and be addressed more quickly.
Research to improve our understanding of biodiversity
The dramatic loss of biodiversity, climate change, and other global environmental changes are among the greatest challenges of our time. Developing effective solutions requires a deeper understanding of the underlying ecological processes.
'The big questions in biodiversity research often lie where we cannot see with the naked eye: beneath the water’s surface, in complex data patterns or in the genetic and microbial foundations of life.' The new building brings together researchers investigating precisely these hidden dimensions of biological diversity. By pooling expertise ranging from ecosystem research and modelling to environmental monitoring and genomics and microbiology, we are laying the foundations for a more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in a rapidly changing world”, explained Professor Sonja Jähnig, Director of IGB, in her welcoming address.
As a result, biodiversity research in the new collaborative building is organised under one roof and shaped through day-to-day scientific collaboration. Modern research infrastructure, short distances, and shared workspaces promote interdisciplinary exchange and create optimal conditions for new scientific insights.
Built to high environmental standards
The new three-storey, polygonal building offers space for around 135 researchers across an area of approximately 2,200 square metres. In addition to laboratories and offices, numerous meeting and social spaces are available to encourage scientific exchange.
High sustainability standards were taken into account during the planning and construction phases. Durable yet recyclable building materials were used. The building features external sun protection, a photovoltaic system on the roof and naturally designed outdoor areas with flower-filled lawns and infiltration basins. The aim is to achieve Gold certification under the German Sustainable Building Assessment System (BNB).
As part of the Art in Architecture project, the building features 'A Biological Clock' by Ursula Damm.
A particular eye-catcher can be found in the building’s central atrium. The rotunda features an installation called 'A Biological Clock' by Ursula Damm, a mixed-media artist and professor at the Bauhaus University. This design won the ‘Art in Architecture’ competition.
The installation visualises the internal rhythms of water fleas and Chaoborus midges over the course of a year. These two species share the same aquatic habitat, exemplifying the complex temporal and ecological interrelationships within ecosystems. The display is complemented by ‘world lines’, derived from the organisms’ movements, which illustrate their interactions with the environment.
Joint funding from the federal and state governments
The partner institutions share the construction costs. The IGB's share was financed as part of a major construction project by the Leibniz Association. These funds come from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, as well as the State of Berlin. Freie Universität Berlin is financing its share from its own funds.
The project developer is the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB), of which the IGB is a member. The building is operated by the Freie Universität Berlin.
Facts and figures
- Name: Kooperationsgebäude Biodiversität Dahlem (Dahlem Biodiversity Collaboration Building)
- Location: Königin-Luise-Str. 28–30, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem
- Institutions: Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V. and Freie Universität Berlin
- Project developer: Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V.
- Funding from the Federal Government and the State of Berlin for IGB: €12 million
- Funding from Freie Universität Berlin: €12 million from its own resources
- Usable floor space: approx. 2,200 square metres spread over three floors (laboratories, offices, meeting rooms)
- Number of users: approx. 135
