The negotiation procedure with the winners of the architectural competition for the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut’s new building has been completed. The design of the first prize winner will be realised. Heinlewischer will be responsible for the project planning of the new building. The award procedures for the other planning disciplines were also successful: SÜSS Beratende Ingenieure will plan the technical equipment and dr. heinekamp the laboratory technology. On 20 February 2025, the building administration authority and the three contractual partners signed the multi-party contract.
Winners of the architectural competition have been selected!
The entries submitted offer a wide range of solutions and were evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- design idea or overall concept,
- functional and spatial specifications,
- sustainability,
- building regulations,
- and cost-effectiveness.
The preliminary review report served as a basis for the jury's evaluation. This report includes comments on the designs' advantages and disadvantages and their suitability for the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
After the purchase of the former Kronenhof by the Institute for Federal Real Estate (Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben, BImA) in 2019, the property was officially handed over in 2021.
In 2017, the Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, BMG) commissioned the Institute for Federal Real Estate (Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben, BImA) with the open-ended search for a new location for the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. Many cities and municipalities were interested in offering the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut a new home. Numerous applicants from the Rhine-Main area applied, and in total there were discussions held with 14 municipalities. Important conditions in the calls for tender were a plot of land with an area of 60,000 to 70,000 m², well-developed infrastructure, and good international transport connections.
Four locations were eventually shortlisted. In order to create the shortlist, the State Office for Construction and Real Estate in Hesse (Landesbetrieb Bau und Immobilien Hessen, LBIH) under the auspices of the regional finance authority (Oberfinanzdirektion Frankfurt am Main, OFD) carried out feasibility studies on behalf of the BImA. Langen proved to be the most economical and best option for the future construction of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut according to construction criteria.
The deed for sale for the premises of Kronenhof in Langen was notarised on Monday, 1 July 2019. This cleared the way for a new building directly opposite the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut’s current building on Paul-Ehrlich-Straße in Langen.
The new building will help the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut to ensure continued future operations using the latest state-of-the-art technology – an important prerequisite for fulfilment of its official duties as a scientific Federal Institute. The new building concept will also take the changing requirements of a modern workplace into account. The overall concept for the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut's long-term development was completed by the Berlin planning office Heinle, Wischer und Partner in October 2015. The plan explicitly recommends a new Paul-Ehrlich-Institut building on an additional plot of land, taking economic efficiency into account.