Forschungsbau – ECAP Laboratory Building

A New Benchmark for Astroparticle Research Facilities

The Forschungsbau – ECAP Laboratory Building, located at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, is a pioneering research facility designed to advance global efforts in high-energy astroparticle physics. Conceived by ARGE dichter + Glass Kramer Löbbert, the project emerged from a winning competition entry in 2017 and was completed in 2022.

Dedicated to the Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP), this laboratory acts as a key node in international collaborations such as CTA/HESS, IceCube, and KM3Net. With a built area of 8,630 square meters, the building supports experimental research through cutting-edge labs, collaborative workspaces, and dynamic office environments.

Architecture Rooted in Functionality and Collaboration

At its core, the building promotes scientific innovation through spatial flexibility. A central circulation zone forms the backbone of the design—featuring open meeting areas, informal workspaces, and coffee points to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue. Framed by two tiered courtyards, the triple-height staircase stitches together all levels, creating visual continuity and orientation throughout.

The layout blends laboratories, workshops, and meeting zones to foster a collaborative research environment. The foyer and main entry extend this ethos outward, gesturing toward the newly envisioned campus plaza, shared by future research buildings at the southern end of the university.

Material Expression and Sustainable Form

The architectural language of the ECAP Laboratory juxtaposes dark aluminum façade panels with a white concrete plinth that folds upward to form a sculptural entrance. This material duality creates a stark yet refined exterior identity, symbolizing both precision and openness.

Inside, natural light fills the workspaces, while mineral surfaces paired with wooden accents establish a calm, airy atmosphere conducive to deep focus. This clarity in materials extends the building’s identity as a place of scientific clarity and environmental integration.

Energy Efficiency Through Low-Tech Innovation

The design adopts a low-tech sustainability strategy to ensure long-term efficiency and adaptability. Its compact volume enhances the building’s thermal performance, reducing energy demands for heating and cooling. Combined with optimized daylighting and passive ventilation strategies, the building stands as a model for sustainable laboratory architecture in academic research environments.

The ECAP Laboratory Building is not just a scientific facility—it’s a statement of architectural clarity, sustainable innovation, and spatial intelligence. By integrating flexible lab typologies with inviting communal zones, it nurtures both individual research and collaborative discovery, embodying the mission of the university and the future of research architecture.

All Photographs are works of Naumann | Friedel Architekturfotografen