The new headquarters of the pharmaceutical company Dr. Falk Pharma will be located in Freiburg, Germany next to the city’s historical locomotive workshop building; Die Freiburger Lokhalle. Cobe’s winning project draws inspiration from the architecture of the locomotive workshop building, taking cues from its pitched roofs and rational, industrial design language.

The 18,500 m² future-proof innovation campus will offer 350 workplaces, restaurants and public facilities. Flexible and robust workspaces facilitate different styles of working, with visual connections on the interior and direct access to greenery. This flexible design also allows the headquarters to adapt over time as the needs of the company and the tenants evolve and vary. The building structure consists of a modular hybrid-timber construction with wooden interiors creating a calming working atmosphere.

The pharmaceutical company – Falk Pharma – wanted to create an attractive workplace close to the city center of Freiburg. Inspired by the adjacent locomotive workshop building, the innovation campus reinterprets the industrial characteristics in a contemporary design. The campus strengthens the urban environment and connections to the green boulevard with new urban squares for the public.

With the campus, three squares are established strengthening better connections to the neighborhood. As generous urban spaces, each of them unites and strengthens different qualities of the Falk Area and provides new gathering places for employees and the neighborhood.

The public square connects the neighborhood to the historic locomotive building and provides local residents with an urban space for various activities and events. The green square provides a break from everyday life in a lush green garden. The mobility square ties into Falk Area’s holistic health initiative ensuring bike parking for employees and visitors.

The building is wrapped in a green facade. The plant species, varying in lengths, colors and density, create a playful yet cohesive facade. Not only do they contribute to the appearance of the building, but also regulate the temperature and sun radiation on the interior.

The new innovation campus establishes a place of encounters between the public, employees, and visitors. The public ground floor offers a café, restaurant, and facilities for various activities. The central atrium is the heart of the building, providing a communal atmosphere across the office spaces. Social zones on all floors promote interaction between the employees of various companies – strenghtening a positive work environment.

The office space layout combines open floor plans and private offices, meeting the different needs and styles of working. This flexible design allows the office spaces to adapt over time as the needs of Falk Pharma and other tenants evolve and vary, strengthening a future-proof working environment.