New Max Planck Campus in Martinsried: Plans for a Research Site of the Future Take Shape

The lead architect firm for the new campus has been selected following the conclusion of the design competition

To the Point

• Contract award: The Max Planck Society has awarded the contract for its largest-ever construction project to the Stuttgart-based firm h4a Gessert + Randecker Architekten.
• Competition: A jury of internal and external experts selected the winning design through a multi-stage, interdisciplinary design competition. The design forms the basis for the next stage of planning for the new campus, which will house the two Max Planck Institutes based in Martinsried.
• Funding: The Free State of Bavaria will provide up to 500 million euros of funding for the project.
• Exhibition: All the competition designs are on display at an exhibition at the institutes in Martinsried until October 2026.

Martinsried is one of the largest sites of the Max Planck Society (MPG) and is home to two Max Planck Institutes (MPI): the MPI of Biochemistry and the MPI for Biological Intelligence. However, after more than 50 years of use, the institute buildings can no longer meet the demands of modern research, and new buildings are necessary. For the MPG, this is about more than a research site: the Max Planck Campus Martinsried is intended to become a place that contributes significantly to Germany’s long-term success. This flagship project, which will receive up to 500 million euros in funding from the Free State of Bavaria, combines sustainable infrastructure, local connectivity, and flexible conditions for research. With the design competition now concluded, the course is now set for the next stages of the campus project.

A connected, green campus

The design by the team at h4a Gessert + Randecker Architekten stood out with its urban planning concept of a community-oriented campus that connects and integrates with the surrounding urban space. A bridge links individual buildings in a “loop”, creating a shared work environment. The heart of the campus is formed by a central main building that defines the site’s identity, and a green park set within the surrounding landscape.

The new campus for the Max Planck Institutes of Biochemistry and for Biological Intelligence will be built in several phases. A particular strength of the winning design is its coherent solution for integrating new buildings constructed in the first phase with existing institute buildings, which will remain in use for the time being. As a result, the future campus park will already be accessible to visitors during the first construction phase.

A Sustainable Campus for Research and Innovation

“This is home to the future: The winner of the architectural competition for the Max Planck Society’s new life science campus in Martinsried near Munich has been chosen. This lays an important foundation for the entire new construction project. One of Europe’s most significant life science hubs is taking shape here, created by one of the world’s leading research organisations. The campus will be a hub for research, development, and talent. Research here will focus on biochemistry and biological intelligence. This work will lead to the development of medicines and revolutionary processes of the future that improve people’s lives. Bavaria is supporting this forward-looking project with up to half a billion euros. Our guiding principle is freedom and priority for science. It is the key to prosperity, innovation, and social progress. That is why, through the High-Tech Agenda Bayern, we are investing more than six billion euros in the key technologies of the 21st century. With 1,000 new professorships and investments in artificial intelligence, aerospace, defense tech, biotechnology, and the life sciences, we are strengthening cutting-edge research and laying the foundation for new companies, high-quality jobs, and lasting prosperity. Those who make cutting-edge research possible shape the future. I wish the construction project every success!” Dr. Markus Söder, Bavaria’s Minister President

“Martinsried brings together excellent research, university medicine, established companies, startups, and an international environment. As the life sciences enter a new era of AI, our institutes want to continue helping shape these developments and to carry out scientific research of the highest standard. After half a century, that now calls for a new campus. We thank the Free State of Bavaria for this truly exceptional dedicated funding.” Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society.

“With the Max Planck Campus Martinsried, we are sending a clear signal: Bavaria is investing in cutting-edge research and innovative future technologies. Together, we are also creating excellent conditions for high-quality jobs, value creation, and competitiveness.” Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs.

“Martinsried is a hotbed of Nobel laureates and one of Europe’s most important life sciences hubs – with the construction of the new Max Planck Campus, we are opening the next chapter in this success story. The Free State is investing up to half a billion euros here. The campus is more than just a construction project: it is a commitment to the location and a foundation for new discoveries, success, and excellence. Architecturally, the winning design captures the essence of what matters in cutting-edge research: connection rather than silos, exchange rather than isolation, translation rather than an ivory tower. The life sciences bring together high tech and healing. We want to prevent diseases before they arise. Everyone talks about longevity – in Martinsried, it is being achieved. This is where the foundations for new cancer therapies and personalized medicine are laid. All of this within an outstanding ecosystem. And, with the Munich underground’s U6 route, we have a genuine ‘line of excellence’ that connects our most important research institutions.” Markus Blume, Bavaria’s Minister of Science.

“As a municipality, we keep sight of the big picture, so that top-tier research and a high quality of life for local residents ultimately go hand in hand. I would like to express my sincere thanks for the excellent collaboration with the MPG.” Dr. Felix Kempf, Mayor of Planegg.

“What excites me is that the selected project is far more than just a functional research building. It creates an open, inspiring campus that fosters interaction, exchange, and scientific excellence in equal measure. This is exactly the quality we had hoped for from this competition.” Angelika Malinowski, Head of the MPG’s Construction Department.

“The chosen design has ‘cast in concrete form’ the needs and requirements of the institutes and provides the wide variety of research approaches and methods with an architectural environment that is flexible yet accessible – now and in the future.” Prof. Dr. Kikuë Tachibana, Managing Director of the MPI of Biochemistry.

“The desire for a green, sustainable, and connected campus is already firmly anchored in the plans, and we are confident of delivering them with the h4a Gessert + Randecker Architekten master design team and in continued close and trusting cooperation with the local community.” Prof. Dr. Manfred Gahr, Managing Director of the MPI for Biological Intelligence.

“Based on the principles of a neural network, the new campus combines architectural precision with excellent research and creates a place for open encounters and far-reaching impact.” Nicolas Henn, h4a Gessert + Randecker Architekten.

Transparent and Participatory Competition Process

The interdisciplinary design competition was launched on 13 December 2024. In the first phase, a total of 48 design teams submitted their proposals, of which 15 were admitted to the competition. After careful assessment, the jury selected six proposals to advance to the second phase during its first meeting on 1 July 2025. On 5 November 2025, the jury selected the designs from three firms, awarding two second prizes and one third prize (see our news story). In the subsequent negotiation process, the two teams awarded second prizes optimized their designs in dialogue with the two institutes. After a further round of intensive reviews, a decision was made in favor of the design by h4a Gessert + Randecker Architekten. MPG announced the results of the design competition at a press conference on 13 July 2026.

Decisions Taken by High-Caliber Experts and Specialists

The selection panel included architects; representatives from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy; the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts; the municipality of Planegg; the Max Planck Society; and the two future occupants – the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. The full composition of the expert and specialist juries. (in German).

Background: A New Campus for Excellence in Research

After more than 50 years of intensive use, the existing buildings of the two Max Planck Institutes in Martinsried are showing their age. In the long term, the buildings can no longer meet the modern and fast-evolving demands of scientific research. The existing structures also cannot meet future technical, functional, and sustainability requirements. Because a comprehensive renovation of the buildings cannot be delivered economically, new buildings will be constructed on the Max Planck Society’s site.

With the design competition, the Max Planck Society set out to obtain an interdisciplinary design for the redevelopment of the long-established research site in Martinsried. The focus was on the urban and architectural design of the new Max Planck Campus Martinsried, which will bring together the research, administrative, and infrastructure buildings of the two Max Planck Institutes.

The new campus is intended to become a place that combines innovative research in the life sciences with a modern, open, and climate-neutral campus concept. Construction is planned in several phases.