Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 23, Construction has started on the 30-hectare Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) campus in Heilbronn, southwest Germany. The campus, designed to foster collaboration among approximately 5,000 professionals from science, business, and government, will focus on developing innovative and responsible artificial intelligence solutions.

Designed by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, the car-free campus features a circular layout with two off-center axes to optimize accessibility and aesthetics. The initial construction phase includes a cylindrical communications center with a reflective facade, housing exhibition spaces, conference rooms, and seminar areas. Additionally, a cream-colored restaurant building with distinctive orange “grotto facades” will offer terraced dining spaces.

Future phases will introduce a mobility hub with logistics and infrastructure facilities centered around an entrance atrium. A living lab will provide office spaces and a spacious laboratory hall, while an office building with a pleated photovoltaic facade will include double-height “living rooms” on each floor to enhance workplace comfort.

The campus prioritizes sustainability, adhering to the German Sustainable Building Council’s DGNB certification standards. MVRDV’s CarbonSpace tool monitors carbon usage throughout the design and construction process, emphasizing lightweight and bio-based materials to reduce environmental impact compared to carbon-heavy alternatives.

MVRDV’s founding partner, Jacob van Rijs, emphasized the human-centric design approach: “Working in AI is very technical — people spend a lot of time tied to their screens. We designed the IPAI Campus as a counterweight to this, with a focus on wellbeing.” He added: “We conducted wind studies to ensure a pleasant microclimate in the public spaces, allowing people to make use of the sports facilities on-site. It’s a design that really emphasises the ‘human’ part of IPAI’s mission to be the global home of human AI.”

The IPAI Konsortium, a collaboration between the State of Baden-Württemberg, the non-profit Dieter Schwarz Foundation, Schwarz Gruppe, and the City of Heilbronn, is overseeing the project’s development. This partnership aims to create a hub that advances AI research while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.

The first phase of the IPAI campus is slated for completion in 2027, marking a significant milestone in establishing Heilbronn as a center for AI innovation. The project is expected to attract talent and investment, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and contributing to advancements in AI technology.

By integrating sustainable design and human-focused spaces, the campus aims to create an environment that supports both cutting-edge research and employee well-being. As construction progresses, the IPAI campus is poised to become a global model for responsible AI development, blending innovation with environmental stewardship.