en.Wedoany.com Reported - The results of the architectural competition for the Fraunhofer Center for Next Generation High Performance Data Analytics and Computing (NG-HPDAC) have been announced, with first prize awarded to the Munich-based architecture firm Henn. The center will be located on the Poppelsdorf campus of the University of Bonn, focusing on research in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and high-performance computing.
The new building will serve as a joint research facility for the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS). Located just a stone's throw from the University of Bonn's Institute of Computer Science, the center aims to integrate SCAI's Bonn branch laboratory and provide new research space for both institutes, with research priorities including machine learning algorithms, AI models, quantum computing, and energy-efficient high-performance computing. The project will further consolidate Bonn's position in applied AI research and computationally intensive sciences.
Construction and initial fit-out of the building are expected to cost €56 million, providing 2,424 square meters of usable space and accommodating approximately 180 employees. The spatial plan includes flexible offices, hybrid collaboration areas, and a high-performance computing data center of about 800 square meters. The architectural design targets a silver certification under the German Sustainable Building Assessment System and compliance with energy efficiency class 40 standards.
The core of the winning design concept is the clear separation of the data center and office spaces, arranged in two distinct parts of the building. The smaller section facing Reinhard-Selten-Straße houses the data center, with a long office wing extending behind it. This layout creates a forecourt that opens the entrance to the street and better integrates the building into the surrounding campus.
The jury, chaired by Munich-based architect Professor Ludwig Wappner, made its decision at a meeting in Bonn on May 22, unanimously selecting Henn's design as the winner with an 11-0 vote. Second prize was awarded to BE Baumschlager Eberle from Berlin, and third prize to Schulz & Schulz from Leipzig. Two other Berlin firms, gmp and BHVT, received special mentions. A total of 20 companies participated in the non-public single-stage design competition, with 16 proposals ultimately submitted.
Preliminary planning and conceptual design work is scheduled to begin in August 2026. NG-HPDAC aims to strengthen the connection between research and application in the fields of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and high-performance computing, supporting businesses and organizations seeking to adopt data-driven processes, AI systems, and energy-efficient computing methods.
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