“Unobtrusive. Sustainable. Communicative. Innovative.”

Such is the image conveyed by the artificial stone and copper elements façade of the CECAD Research Center, inaugurated in May 2013. A building whose innovative design seamlessly blends architectural elegance with laboratory efficiency, fostering collaboration and networking within the scientific research community. (Architektur für exzellente Alternsforschung, medfacilities GmbH, 2013)

Following its foundation in November 2007, the CECAD cluster began securing funds for a joint research infrastructure. By 2008, CECAD successfully obtained funding from the federal and state governments for its own research building. The CECAD Research Center was established on the clinical campus of the University of Cologne, strategically located near the University Hospital and the newly built Max-Planck-Institutes for Biology of Ageing and for Metabolism Research. Inaugurated in May 2013, the center spans approximately 10,600 square meters of space and accommodates around 20 groups from both the Faculties of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Medicine, which are in close proximity. The building also houses core state-of-the-art technology facilities and offers designated areas known as the "White Space" available for rotating junior research groups.

In parallel, the construction of the new MPI for the Biology of Ageing (9,000 square meters) was completed. This is situated across from the CECAD Research Center, thus further enhancing interactions and collaborations. Additionally, the reorientation of the MPI for Neurological Research into the MPI of Metabolic Research included a comprehensive renovation and restructuring of its laboratory space. By 2025, additional space will be provided by the new Center for Metabolic Research (3,500 square meters), which will house CECAD groups focused on metabolic themes as well as the new CECAD metabolomics core facility.

All these developments presented CECAD with the unique opportunity to restructure and expand the life-science campus in Cologne, optimizing, modernizing and centralizing its entire infrastructure to ideally support the cluster’s research needs. This laid the foundation for establishing a unique, world-class hub for aging research at a single location.