Roofing Ceremony at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Potsdam

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) celebrated the timely completion of the shell together with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, with its employees as well as all companies previously involved in the construction and representatives of neighbouring Institutes located on the Telegrafenberg.

"It's fascinating to see how much work is already finished and we are all looking forward to the completion in spring 2017," said AWI Director Professor Karin Lochte during the ceremony and thanked all participants for their active support. Matthias Wiltsch from the supervising architect's office 'R. Becker' complimented on the good cooperation as well: "The 'climate' is right."

After the shell completion the plaster and interior work will be done soon. The annexe consists of two buildings, which connect to the previous AWI-Building A45 on the left and on the right. In this way, the entire area will provide sufficient laboratory and warehouse space as well as modern offices to about 100 employees and 50 visiting researchers at AWI Potsdam in future.

In addition, a lecture hall, a library, social rooms and enough space for expedition preparation have been designed for the new building. "In this way our colleagues in Potsdam will have the opportunity to even better prepare their excellent research", said Karin Lochte.

The construction costs for the two new wings amount to 13.3 million euros, which shall be borne by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the State of Brandenburg.