Construction activities

Expansion and comprehensive renovation of the Physics Institutes

Planning for the comprehensive renovation of the Physics Institutes has been underway for many years; approval of the construction plans was originally scheduled for 2015. As an extension of the existing building, a new laboratory building was constructed by 2023, serving as a connecting wing between the First and Second Physics Institutes. Subsequently, the existing buildings will be comprehensively renovated in stages. Due to increased space requirements—particularly as a result of large third-party-funded projects—further expansions have already been implemented or are in the planning stages.

The following paragraphs provide an overview of planned, ongoing, and completed phases of the construction project (this list is not exhaustive).

History through 2015: Expansion of the Theoretical Physics Building, Accelerator Renovation, Ando Module Construction

After lengthy periods of planning and submitting applications, the state ministries indicated that approval of the construction documents could be granted around the end of January 2015. The UoC was asked to initiate preparatory measures (such as disposing of old transformers, conducting an explosive ordnance survey, sewer rehabilitation, etc.).

The starting point was a usable floor area of 14,400 m² in the existing building (NF1–6, excluding the extension of the Institute for Theoretical Physics). Ultimately, an expansion of the usable floor area to 19,229 m² (NF1–6) was applied for and approved. The compelling arguments for the expansion were the steadily increasing acquisition of third-party funding and the additional professorships and research positions resulting from the Excellence Initiative.

The new ETP building (Expansion Building Theoretical Physics) can be viewed as an early phase of the overall project. It was completed in 2013 and houses research groups from the Institutes of Theoretical Physics and Biological Physics, as well as seminar and meeting rooms.

Through the acquisition of CologneAMS, the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the accelerator area had already undergone a comprehensive renovation in advance (2011). This was also carried out as a preliminary measure in preparation for the subsequent comprehensive renovation.

As part of Prof. Ando’s appointment at the Institute of Physics II, a temporary modular laboratory building with 450 m² of usable floor space was constructed in 2015 on the lawn south of the Institute of Physics I/Institute for Astrophysics. This modular building was connected to the existing structure by a covered passageway.

New laboratory building and new ML4Q building

The new laboratory building (cross-wing between Physics I/Astrophysics and Physics II) was completed in February 2023 (see press release). It houses laboratories, measurement rooms, a cleanroom, and workshops.

Since the launch of the ML4Q Cluster of Excellence, plans have been in place to expand laboratory and office space in a new modular building on the former parking lot of the Physics Institutes. In the interim, office space has been leased, and laboratories for the new experimental physics professorships have been housed in the Institute of Physics II.

Comprehensive renovation planning with UniSpaces GmbH (starting in 2025)

At the end of 2025, the University, in collaboration with medfacilities GmbH, founded a subsidiary, UniSpaces GmbH (see also the announcement on the University’s construction blog). UniSpaces is set to take over several construction projects from the University’s Department of Construction, including the comprehensive renovation of the Physics Institutes. Planning for this project began in early 2026 with workshops involving users, architects, and planners.

Hazardous substances in the existing Physics building (Building 321)

In 2013, as part of the planning for the comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Physics Institutes, expert reports were commissioned that concluded that measures to reduce pollutants were necessary even before the actual renovation began. The University has carried out these measures in recent years. In addition to the actual renovation work, this has included further expert reports and monitoring measurements. A final report on the measurements conducted from 2022 to 2024 has shown that the measures implemented or currently underway are effective.

The current status and history of the investigations are summarized below.

Background: PCBs

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are synthetic mixtures of substances that were used primarily in the 1960s and 1970s in the construction industry as sealants, paints, and in electrical equipment. The use of these hazardous substances has been banned since 1989.

For PCB levels in indoor air, a precautionary limit of 300 ng/m³ applies, above which measures must be taken, as well as a threshold limit of 3,000 ng/m³, above which areas of the building must be closed off.

Measurements and direct action

With regard to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in indoor air, the target level of less than 300 nanograms (ng) per cubic meter could not initially be achieved everywhere. A press release dated July 23, 2021, also covers the findings of this report.

In the foyer, stairwells, and offices, PCB levels in the indoor air were sometimes below the precautionary value of 300 ng/m³ (green zone) and sometimes above it (yellow zone). The levels were well below the threshold of 3,000 ng/m³ (red zone), which would require closure.
The lecture halls are ventilated and fall within the acceptable range.
Rooms can continue to be used (with intermittent ventilation).
From 2022 to 2024, quarterly indoor air quality monitoring was conducted.
Immediate measures were necessary and were implemented (see below). These have since been completed.

Given the statistical nature of the measurements and as a precautionary measure, the following immediate actions were taken in all rooms:

Replacement/repair of defective windows
Thorough ventilation of the offices
Removal of the blackout seals(1)
Sealing of window joints
Improved ventilation in the foyer
Thorough cleaning of the stairwells
Thorough cleaning of the offices
Thorough cleaning of all rooms, including furnishings, to remove PCBs dust as well
Further inspections and, if necessary, additional remediation of areas in consultation with the Physics Department users and specialists
Regular and close communication between the Physics Department and the University's Department of Construction

(1) Blackout joints are elastic joints between the guide rail of the interior blackout system and the wall.

Final Report on the 2022-2024 PCBs Measurements

A final report was prepared on the quarterly measurements conducted from 2022 to 2024. The report concluded that the measures implemented or currently underway are effective. In the last quarterly measurements in 2024, no PCB concentrations in indoor air that were significantly elevated—as defined by the NRW PCBs Directive—were detected.

Biomonitoring

In 2021 and 2022, a biomonitoring study was conducted on a group of long-term employees. In some cases, elevated PCB levels were detected, though they were well below the current threshold values. The expert, Prof. Kraus from RWTH Aachen University, confirms that the measures taken—in particular, consistent ventilation—are appropriate and sufficient.

For employees with questions or concerns (e.g., due to exceptional health circumstances such as pregnancy), the University of Cologne offers counseling and services that include individual human biomonitoring. The contact person is Philipp Wilking.