Think Campus I – the first of three innovation locations planned for Jungfernsee in Potsdam – is conceived as a dynamic workspace for companies, research institutions, students, and start-ups alike. Berlin-based architects Bollinger + Fehlig have already delivered WorkHub I and WorkHub II, pioneering projects that seamlessly integrate flexible working concepts, sustainability, and architectural excellence. Nestled picturesquely along Jungfernsee, the campus creates a distinctive working environment surrounded by leading research and educational institutions including Gisma Business School and the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. Only the SAP Innovation Centre across the way separates Think Campus I from the lake's shoreline.

Construction proceeded right up until the coronavirus pandemic struck. Before the buildings could launch operations, the first lockdown arrived—marking a fundamental shift in workplace thinking. WorkHub III is now under construction and targeted for completion by 2026. For now, we focus on Part I: designed as a reinforced concrete skeleton frame, the structure enables remarkable spatial flexibility. Open floor plans and modular office units adapt effortlessly to evolving workplace needs. What truly stands out are the striking foyer with its commanding staircase—doubling as an event venue—and the generous atrium serving as the campus's central gathering hub. Expansive glazing and delicate aluminum elements flood the space with light while dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior. The rhythmic gridwork of window bands, subtly staggered across three upper stories, combined with the soaring glazed surfaces enclosing the atrium, gives the entire structure an almost ethereal, transparent quality.

To meet contemporary environmental standards, the campus integrates an array of sustainability measures: electronically managed solar shading for precise light and climate control, thermally efficient spaces featuring state-of-the-art building systems, planted roof terraces offering respite for occupants, fully accessible design with elevators on every floor, and e-charging infrastructure supporting sustainable mobility. Together, these innovations position Think Campus as a forward-thinking workplace that champions both ecological responsibility and cutting-edge design. WorkHub II and III will eventually expand the campus directly alongside, creating the complete Think Campus—a vision SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner once dreamed would become the "Potsdam Silicon Valley."

www.bollinger-fehlig.de

Photography:
Marcus Ebener
www.marcus-ebener.de

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|25)