The new building to the north of the existing one is a freestanding detached wooden building with three floors. The rectangular construction is 59 m long and built parallel to the adjacent main road. It is integrated formally into the existing context and at the same time supplements the material variety of the glass, plaster, and steel already present. In the southwestern part of the building the individual floors are offset, and part of the top floor can be used as a terrace. The main entrance is situated to the south, diagonally opposite that of the existing building, and can be accessed via the newly created courtyard and square. All levels are designed solely as office space. On the third floor, individual work spaces with two to three work desks are combined with a larger office area to create an open-plan environment.

In formal and material terms, the three-story annex is conceived as a continuation of the existing laboratory wing. The color shades and the clear arrangement of the existing facade are continued in the new expansion. Only a few sections depart from the formally strict pattern of the laboratory wing. On the entrance level there are extension areas for the Phase I Unit. These essentially consist of ten new therapy rooms as well as examination and consulting rooms. The upper two floors are conceived of as laboratory areas only.

The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, and ministers from the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony signed the federal-state administration agreement for the National Centre for Tumour Diseases (NCT). At the same time, the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital inaugurated the extension and annex to the NCT Heidelberg. The client DKFZ ceremonially handed over the keys to Heidelberg University Hospital, which operates the building.

The National Centre for Tumour Diseases (NCT) is a long-term cooperation between the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), excellent partners in university medicine and other outstanding research partners.

Photo: © Anspach/DKFZ