The fit-out of the startup incubator at iQ Space Berlin marks a key step in shaping a unified design approach that brings laboratories, workplaces, and interior environments together within a single framework.
Following the start of construction in autumn 2025, architecture firm HENN has been awarded the contract to deliver laboratory planning alongside the interior design of office and communication areas across three floors of the building. The commission ensures continuity between the architectural concept and the interior environment, aligning functional requirements with spatial design.
Designing laboratories and workplaces as a single environment
The scope of the fit-out extends beyond conventional office interiors to include laboratory planning, reflecting the building’s role as a startup incubator for gene and cell therapies. The integration of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-certified production areas with workplace and collaboration spaces establishes a continuous environment where research, development, and production are accommodated within the same setting.
The design approach brings together technical laboratory requirements and everyday workspaces, enabling interaction between research teams while maintaining the standards required for scientific work. Office and communication areas are planned alongside laboratory environments, supporting interdisciplinary working methods within a shared spatial structure.
A working environment for research, development and production
iQ Space Berlin is planned as a working environment for up to 900 people, supporting activities ranging from early-stage research to the development of therapies for clinical application. The building will be used by the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies, initiated by Bayer, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, alongside programmes such as Bayer Co.Lab.
Designed as a startup incubator with integrated production facilities, the project brings together research, clinical practice, and industry within a single location. The inclusion of GMP-compliant areas supports the transition from laboratory research to manufacturing and application, forming a continuous development pathway within the building.
Spatial design and transparency along Nordhafen
Located at Nordhafen, the building is designed to engage with its urban and natural surroundings. Its cubic form and horizontally structured façade respond to the scale of the surrounding context, while a transparent glazed base creates a visual connection between the interior and the adjacent park and waterfront.
A projection towards the riverside promenade forms a sheltered public area with a café, providing a space for interaction between users and visitors. From this level, views into the laboratory areas on the upper floors allow aspects of the research environment to be visible from within the building. The concept of transparency is further reflected in the arrangement of internal spaces, where shared areas extend across multiple levels to support communication and collaboration.
Flexible layouts and integrated building systems
The upper levels of the building are organised around a modular grid, allowing for adaptable layouts that can accommodate changing requirements over time. Shared spaces connect different functions across floors, supporting a flexible approach to occupancy and use.
The façade incorporates folded elements that integrate technical equipment while contributing to solar shading, with variations in projection responding to orientation. Photovoltaic panels are positioned around rooftop installations to generate energy, and balconies facing the embankment provide outdoor areas for users overlooking the waterfront.
Surrounded by a riverside park with access to the water, the development brings together research facilities, workplace environments, and public interfaces within a single setting. Completion of iQ Space Berlin is scheduled for 2028.
