Brick and Brain: A case study about the incorporation of knowledge architecture into the conception of a loveable science park building

Wissenschaftszentrum Kiel, the core institution of the Science Park, and the Knowledge Architecture lab of TU Dresden have jointly developed a concept for a new STP building. The process of concept development was characterized by the intense participation of current tenants, thus presenting an open innovation process. This procedure provided new insights into tenants demands, in particular with respect to working environment, soft factors and work-life-balance. We describe the procedure of assessing different user groups and their specific and joint demands and needs, resulting in detailed demand profiles. A programming process translated these requirements into the language of architecture and allowed spatial allocation of different functions. The concept provides combination of hard infrastructure with new services. The problem of convincing public shareholders to realize the concept is discussed in the light of traditional versus contemporary regional economic development strategies.