A competition determined the winner: the newly completed Business Development Centre for Medical Technology (BDC) – the inaugural structure of Mannheim's new Medical Technology Campus – bears the creative mark of three architectural firms: a|sh sander.hofrichter architekten, studioplus, and MTTR – Architekten + Stadtplaner. Called "Cubex One" for its distinctive cubic form, the building sits along the same sight line as the University Hospital Mannheim, a placement that signals its deep connection to research and innovation. This visual relationship is further reinforced by an elegant curved open staircase of exposed concrete that gracefully bridges the varying ground levels.

The new building offers nearly 8,000 m² of intelligently designed, adaptable space—including flexible office areas, co-working zones, seminar rooms, and event spaces that foster collaboration and cross-disciplinary dialogue. Five state-of-the-art laboratories, clean rooms, and workshop facilities complete the interior. The BDC's communal spaces feature expansive façade openings that invite visual connection between inside and out. But the true signature of Cubex One lies in its façade: white ceramic shingles—custom-developed by studioplus and MTTR Architekten + Stadtplaner with the manufacturer—combine with asymmetrically arranged openings of varying shapes and proportions to create a striking visual statement. Their small-scale stone format and soft glazing animate the five-story structure with subtle plays of light across its surface. The window reveals deserve equal attention: recessed frames of graduated widths establish visual depth through angled alignment toward each opening. A grid pattern on one window side—echoing an open shutter—dissolves the geometric rigidity of the window forms and amplifies the sense of perspective. Inside, the entry hall establishes a technological presence through metallic ceiling panels, strategically placed wall accents, and an undulating light element flowing through the space. The work areas, by contrast, embrace restraint, prioritizing the flexibility that modern collaboration demands. Cubex One achieves what few buildings do: marrying architectural elegance on the outside with uncompromising functionality within—creating a new standard for collaborative workspaces and innovation.

www.mttr.berlin
www.a-sh.de
www.studioplus.plus

Photography:
Zooey Braun
www.zooeybraun.de

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 04|24)