G27 Academic Campus & Student Housing
Berlin, Germany

DBI Projects explored several European capitals for the location of a new student dormitory and academic campus before selecting Berlin, known for its vibrant cultural scene and reputation for being a city of reinvention. DBI strategically identified dozens of properties in Berlin and evaluated each according to specific development criteria. A side-by-side analysis of the properties led to the selection of a light manufacturing facility in the Berlin neighborhood of Kreuzberg in 2013.

Aiming to create an academic campus where living, learning, dining and socializing could co-exist in an innovative way, the team designed, renovated and converted the complex into a campus with over 200 beds, as well as student classrooms and amenity areas. A large communal ground floor with multiple seating areas, an oversized fire place, a marble bar and cafe, custom and re-purposed furniture, and eclectic lighting was the centerpiece of the project. Each floor is anchored by multiple social hubs such as community kitchens and intimate lounges surrounded by local contemporary art and extensive collages of framed student photos.