Biotechcampus Mainz
Occasion
The state capital of Mainz is an important location in the field of biotechnology. Many companies, institutes, and public institutions such as the university and the university medical center are successfully working in this segment.
The university expansion area, as part of the "biotechnology axis," offers ideal conditions for the development of a central area as a starting point for a "biotechnology campus."
Urban development realization concept
Based on the two legally binding development plans "University expansion site south of the Europakreisel roundabout – 1st amendment (B 158 / 1.Ä)" and "University expansion site south of the Europakreisel roundabout – 3rd amendment (B 158 / 3.Ä)," an urban development implementation concept for the "University expansion south of the Europakreisel roundabout" area was developed in collaboration with the owners in the area. Amendment (B 158 / 3.Ä)", an urban development implementation concept for the "University expansion south of the Europakreisel" area was developed in collaboration with the owners of the site.
Together with representatives of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Ministry of Finance, State Property and Construction Management Agency, Ministry of Science and Health Rhineland-Palatinate), the property management company Stadt Mainz mbH (GVG), Mainzer Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (MVG), and Innovationspark Mainz GmbH & Co. KG, a sustainable urban development approach for a new "biotech campus" was formulated under the leadership of the city planning office.
Process
The urban development implementation concept was developed in several workshops. Following an initial meeting in April 2023, the content was developed in two workshops in June 2023 and September 2023. The external planning offices "bb22 architekten + stadtplaner" and "Drei Eins Stadt Freiraum Architektur," both based in Frankfurt am Main, provided planning support for the process and drew up the urban development implementation concept.
Components of the realization concept
The urban development concept includes, in particular, a green development of the neighborhood with a high quality of living space and open space. The key points of the concept are:
Green spaces: Two
public parks will be created in the center of the eastern and western development rings. In addition, green "front zones" will be created on private land, which will be designed with special, so-called "lead tree species."
The appearance of the biotechnology campus and the quality of life for employees and visitors is largely determined by the quality of the open spaces. The implementation of green "front zones," especially on the private properties affected by this, is a central component of the concept.
The streets and traffic areas are to be designed to be spacious and attractive with accompanying greenery. Due to the fixed street cross-sections, this is to be done in large sections on private land.
Footpaths:
In addition to public thoroughfares, further paths are proposed to improve connectivity within the neighborhood, thereby improving accessibility and enabling short distances.
Mobility:
A mobility concept developed for the neighborhood by the Competence Center for Intelligent Mobility (KIM) on behalf of biomindz GmbH highlights sustainable mobility options that have been incorporated into the urban development implementation concept. The construction of a central neighborhood parking garage is also planned.
Implementation / LOI
The success of campus development depends on various factors, which can be influenced in particular by the landowners involved.
To implement the urban development concept, a letter of intent (LOI) was drawn up between the city of Mainz and the property owners. As an essential building block for the joint, cooperative development of the area into a high-quality "biotech campus," the LOI focuses on getting all parties involved to agree on common goals.
The aim is to achieve a mix of uses for a sustainable neighborhood in which the landowners pursue the establishment of research and development facilities, conference areas, restaurants, local amenities, daycare centers, and a central neighborhood parking garage.
With the LOI, all owners also agree to the design regulations of the jointly developed urban development concept and to the presentation and consultation of future construction projects in the Planning and Design Advisory Board (PGB) of the city of Mainz. The parties involved also agree to inform each other at regular intervals about activities in the area and to coordinate the jointly developed criteria.
Both the urban development implementation concept and the LOI highlight the high-quality approaches for the future development of the B 158 without changing the existing building regulations.
On September 23, 2024, the LOI was signed by all owners in the "Biotech Campus" area.