Topping-out ceremony for the new building of the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum

A modern research centre for security and privacy in the digital future: On 7 October 2026, the topping-out ceremony was held for the new building of the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP), designed by Eller + Eller Architects, on the Mark 51°7 site in Bochum. Representatives from the Max Planck Society, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the City of Bochum and the architectural team joined the construction workers and the institute’s staff in celebrating the project’s progress. In their welcoming addresses, Heike Kiko (Head of the Construction Management Division, Max Planck Society), Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert (State Secretary for Culture and Science, North Rhine-Westphalia) and Prof. Dr Peter Schwabe (Scientific Director of MPI-SP) emphasised the importance of the new building for the institute’s research work, which has a national and international impact.

Erasmus Eller, Managing Director of Eller + Eller Architects, emphasised the role of the MPI-SP team in the architectural design in his welcoming address: “For us, people are at the heart of everything we do, which is why I am delighted to see the Institute’s staff here today – the very people for whom we are designing this building. With this goal in mind, I am confident that, in the end, you will agree that this collaborative process has been worthwhile.”

Eller + Eller Architects have designed a building that equally supports interdisciplinary research, focused work and academic exchange. How can security and privacy be guaranteed in an increasingly digitalised world? These are the questions addressed by the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, founded in 2019. A new research centre is being built on the former Opel factory site in Bochum, which will in future provide modern working and research conditions for around 350 staff members.

Architecture for interdisciplinary research

Spanning approximately 14,000 square metres of gross floor area, the new building brings together laboratories, workspaces and areas for interaction and exchange. Seminar rooms, a cafeteria and a lecture theatre complete the range of facilities. The design aims to promote both focused, topic-oriented work and communication and spontaneous encounters. The architecture creates the spatial conditions that enable researchers to share their knowledge, bring together different perspectives and work together on complex issues. The concept is complemented by an energy-efficient building structure that meets the requirements of a forward-looking research centre.

An important milestone on the road to completion

Planning for the new building began in June 2021, and construction work started in June 2023. The topping-out ceremony recognised the collective progress made by everyone involved in the project. Representatives from the Max Planck Society, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the City of Bochum and the team of architects celebrated together with the construction workers and the institute’s staff.

Project: New building for the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP)
Location: Mark 51°7, Bochum
Architecture: Eller + Eller Architekten
Gross floor area: approx.. 14.000 m²
Use: Research, laboratories, offices and communal areas