A new architectural complex at Geisenheim University in Germany showcases innovative educational design through three distinct buildings that house cutting-edge beverage technology facilities, lecture halls, and seminar spaces. The project, completed by Stuttgart-based Bez+Kock Architects, demonstrates how modern university architecture can seamlessly integrate academic functions with practical industry applications in the heart of Germany's renowned Rheingau wine region.

The Beverage Technology Center, despite its technical-sounding name, serves as anything but ordinary academic space. This facility operates as a working production center where students and faculty manufacture and bottle juices, spirits, and sparkling wine in full view of visitors and students. Located in the small Rhine town of Geisenheim, west of Wiesbaden in the famous Rheingau wine-growing region, the university traces its roots back to the Royal Prussian Institute for Fruit and Wine Growing, established in 1872.

The lecture hall building stands as the university's new flagship structure, though students likely prefer spending time in the beverage technology facility where hands-on learning takes center stage. Together with the adjacent logistics laboratory, this building marks the eastern entrance to the campus grounds. Positioned on a gently sloping street behind a massive cedar tree, the setting evokes thoughts of southern landscapes, particularly during summer months. The building's minimalist facade, constructed from prefabricated concrete elements and wood, could easily fit into a Spanish architectural context.

The landscape design was handled by Bittkau-Bartfelder Landscape Architects and Engineers from Wiesbaden through design phase 4, with Enviro-Plan from Odernheim taking over from phase 5 onward. Construction supervision was managed by Ernst2 Architects from Stuttgart. The interior lecture hall, accommodating approximately 700 people, follows the natural topography of the site. Its entrance is located at the rear facing the campus lawn, while access from the street requires navigating a stepped passage between the lecture hall and logistics buildings.

The foyer presents a sophisticated material palette featuring bright terrazzo tiles, extensive exposed concrete surfaces, and flush-mounted wood paneling. The dark green upholstery in the lecture hall demonstrates an almost nostalgic charm reminiscent of earlier educational design trends. Additional seminar rooms are located on the upper floor and in the neighboring new building, while the logistics building also houses laboratories and offices. Combined, these two structures encompass approximately 4,700 square meters of gross floor area.

The Beverage Technology Center occupies a strategic position further west, situated between two existing buildings on campus. The architects describe this structure as Janus-faced, acknowledging how the different requirements of elevated delivery access and lower regular entrance levels resulted in distinctly different architectural expressions. Students enter the building from the campus side at the basement level, while delivery vehicles can reach the centrally located production hall at ground level.

Surrounding the main production hall are specialized facilities including laboratories, workshops, and administrative offices. The basement level houses a sparkling wine cellar complete with tasting areas, a sensory analysis laboratory, and a coffee roasting facility. This comprehensive approach ensures that virtually every aspect of beverage production and analysis is covered within the facility.

The interior design of all three buildings maintains consistent material choices and aesthetic approaches. However, the production hall features a more industrial character, enhanced by large structural spans, substantial steel beams, and exposed building systems. The Beverage Technology Center encompasses approximately 4,800 square meters of gross floor area. The total construction costs for both project phases reached approximately 37 million euros gross in cost groups 200 through 600, demonstrating the significant investment in state-of-the-art educational facilities that bridge academic learning with real-world industry applications.