Two turntables made this possible. The renovation undertaken in 2021 by the local Aloys and Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation then metaphorically closed the circle. For through it, the now-abandoned structure was revitalized and redesigned into a thoroughly productive and
atmospherically appealing place. The historic outer shell of the ring locomotive shed serves as both a unifying motif and a framework for the new. Its restored structure transforms, as it were, the circular arrangement of the rail vehicles into an ordered community of users of the building now known as the “Innovation Hub.” Eighteen research institutions and companies from the agricultural and health sectors have found their place here. All are dedicated to the
research and development of AI solutions. Spatially, the Coppenrath Innovation Centre offers each tenant one or more sections that can be used individually and as self-contained units. What makes the concept unique is the shared architectural envelope, which not only brings the installed, two-story building modules together into a vibrant community but also creates functional opportunities for interaction
and dialogue through multifunctional and communal spaces. The “Hub” brings together academia, the startup scene, industry, and crafts. The INNOVATORIUM was established as the central space of the complex, offering room for both everyday communication and events such as conferences, presentations, or exhibitions. The CIC serves as the anchor initiative for the 22-hectare Lokviertel. The mobility principle of the historic beginning is thus carried forward in the best possible way—now as a workspace.
