Firmly anchored to the ground, the structure of the Brainergy Hubs is steadily taking shape. For now, the building’s distinctive circular design is only beginning to emerge, with its striking architecture set to become fully apparent during the next phases of construction. By 2028, the new building in Brainergy Park, just north of Jülich, is expected to be ready for occupation, providing around 300 workplaces across approximately 9,700 square metres.
For the team at the Helmholtz Hydrogen Cluster (HC-H2), the site visit offered far more than a glimpse of a building under construction. It also provided a preview of their own future. By 2031, Brainergy Park will also become the new home of HC-H2 and the Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE). The similarities between the two projects are striking: both will accommodate around 300 employees, both represent investments of approximately €90 million, and both were designed by the same architectural practice. HENN GmbH is responsible for the design of both developments.
Building in an Earthquake Zone
The two projects share another important feature: both are being constructed in the Rhenish mining region, between the Garzweiler, Hambach and Inden open-cast mines, an area classified as Earthquake Zone 3 – Germany’s highest seismic hazard category. As a result, the structural engineering requirements are particularly demanding.
For the Brainergy Hub, the design team has opted for a timber-hybrid construction enclosed by three prominent circular rings. Rising 18 metres high with a diameter of 73 metres – roughly half the length of a full-sized football pitch – the building is intended to become much more than an office complex. It is being designed as a central meeting place for the entire Brainergy Park, complete with restaurants and cafés as well as a landscaped outdoor area of around 39,000 square metres featuring a park and a lake.
Bringing Daylight to the Heart of the Building
At the centre of the design is a spacious circular atrium, where a light-filled staircase links all floors of the building. Four additional concrete staircases also play a crucial structural role by stiffening the overall construction. Meanwhile, four internal light wells channel daylight deep into the interior. Alongside modern office space, the building will include event facilities that can be extended onto a rooftop terrace in favourable weather.
Planning for Tomorrow, Today
To ensure that the Brainergy Hub quickly becomes a vibrant place after completion, Brainergy Park GmbH is already investing in the next generation of innovative businesses. Its Startup Village provides young companies with space to develop their ideas and grow. The programme is currently being expanded with the aim that some of today’s start-ups will become tomorrow’s tenants of the Brainergy Hub.
The copyright for the images used on this website is held by Forschungszentrum Jülich, aligator kommunikation GmbH and stock.adobe.com.
