The University of Jena's demands on its buildings are growing: research and teaching must have future-proof, flexible and sustainable structures. Such a modern research landscape is being created on the Beutenberg Campus in Jena, with approximately 5,000 square meters. Completion and commissioning of the Microverse Center Jena (MCJ) is scheduled for the end of 2024.

In addition to around 130 existing buildings, numerous new construction projects contribute to the continued first-class development of the University of Jena. The schedule is tight, as the federal and state funding for the construction projects is linked to deadlines. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Free State of Thuringia are each investing around 20 million euros in the construction of the new MCJ research building: "The generous support from the federal government, the Free State of Thuringia and Friedrich Schiller University is enabling us to create a research building for our Cluster of Excellence that promotes encounters and synergies. As a result, the university and non-university institutes will continue to grow together and form the basis for a globally visible center of cutting-edge research," says Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel, spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse".

Cutting-edge research made in Jena

The MCJ is to become the spatial heart of the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" - a research network that focuses on the composition, communication and interaction of microbial communities with each other and with their environment. The MCJ will be designed for a total of 170 scientists and 30 non-scientific staff. The building, designed by hks Architekten, provides the necessary infrastructure for new and existing professorships and several junior research groups, as well as the Microverse Imaging Center and the Cluster of Excellence office. Sustainable elements such as a wooden façade, large heat storage units and a photovoltaic system with an integrated green roof ensure a high level of energy efficiency.

Picture Credits: © hks Architekten