Silver Construction and Real Estate Projects Design · 2026
Tobb Technopark Campus Innovation Center
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Construction and Real Estate Projects Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: A Tasarim Mimarlik
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 11,948
- Verification code 282E4382C1 · Verify this award
About Tobb Technopark Campus Innovation Center
Tobb Technopark Campus is a research and development complex located within the Tobb Etu Campus in Ankara. The design consists of two blocks joined by a central atrium at ground level and through the basement levels. Laboratories, workshops, parking and technical spaces occupy the basement levels, while the upper floors hold flexible research and development areas. Five entrances placed at different levels give access across the sloping site. The layout opens the work spaces toward daylight and the adjacent city park, supporting interaction and knowledge exchange.
TOBB Economy and Technology University's Innovation Center emerges as a distinguished exemplar of contemporary campus architecture, demonstrating how thoughtfully conceived built environments can catalyze innovation, collaboration, and knowledge creation within technology-focused research ecosystems. The design articulates a clear spatial narrative wherein two substantial yet elegantly proportioned towers frame a central gathering plaza, establishing an architectural dialogue that privileges both individual enterprise and collective exchange. The extensive deployment of high-performance curtain wall systems speaks to commitments toward transparency, natural illumination, and visual connectivity between interior workspaces and the broader landscape context, while horizontal articulation through floor-plate expression and linear shading elements provides essential solar control and facade rhythm. Particularly noteworthy is the integration of rooftop terrace gardens that introduce biophilic qualities at the building crowns, suggesting programmatic amenity spaces that extend the campus experience skyward while contributing to urban heat island mitigation and stormwater management objectives. The landscape strategy demonstrates sophisticated understanding of transitional zones, with verdant lawn expanses and mature specimen plantings creating graduated buffer conditions between vehicular infrastructure and pedestrian-focused plaza environments. One observes careful attention to human scale throughout, with ground-level activations, covered walkways, and outdoor gathering nodes that invite occupation and support chance encounter, those informal interactions so vital to creative enterprise. The chromatic restraint of the architectural palette, predominantly clear glazing with warm metallic mullion systems against neutral structural elements, allows seasonal landscape variations and atmospheric conditions to provide chromatic animation throughout the annual cycle. This work invites contemplation of how architectural form and spatial organization might foster the collaborative cultures and innovative outputs that define successful technology campuses, while maintaining gracious relationships with surrounding urban and natural contexts.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The project is conceived as an integrated and adaptive system that supports continuous knowledge production, innovation and collaboration. It is defined by a clear and rational spatial organization, flexibility for future expansion, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and user-oriented functionality. The design balances technical efficiency with spatial quality, creating an environment that encourages creativity, interaction and high-performance research and development activities. Through its adaptable structure and efficient planning approach, the project responds to evolving technological needs while maintaining a cohesive and accessible architectural identity.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Tobb Etu Technopark is developed on a 30,000 sqm site and consists of two basement levels, a ground floor accessible from three different elevations, and six upper floors. The project is organized into two main blocks, Block A and Block B, which are interconnected through a central atrium at ground level and through the basement levels. Each block has a typical floor plate of approximately 4,000 sqm, resulting in a total gross construction area of 120,000 sqm. The basement levels accommodate laboratories, workshops, parking and technical spaces, with a clear height of 6.00 meters, while the upper floors dedicated to R&D functions have a floor height of 4.20 meters.
- Tags
- Research and Development, Technopark, Innovation, Courtyard, Landscape, Office, Laboratory, Campus
- Production Technology
- During the design of the Tobb Etu Technopark, comprehensive site analyses were conducted, taking into account topography, elevation differences, surrounding transportation networks, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. A continuous ring road was introduced within the campus to provide access to all façades for both vehicles and pedestrians, while multiple entry points were defined at different levels to ensure seamless connectivity. Five main entrances were strategically positioned to facilitate clear and efficient access to the building. Vertical circulation systems were designed to enable the movement of users, materials, and service functions across all floors. The project establishes a strong relationship with the adjacent 30 Agustos City Park, allowing direct access from ground-level spaces and orienting work environments toward the landscape.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge of the design process was to achieve a coherent integration between a large-scale, high-density technopark program and the site’s complex physical and contextual conditions. The project required balancing advanced technological infrastructure with environmental sensitivity, while responding to significant topographical variations and multi-level access requirements.
Internally, the challenge involved aligning the evolving needs of research, innovation and flexible work environments with the academic and social character of the university campus. Externally, zoning regulations, laboratory requirements, construction constraints and multidisciplinary coordination played a critical role in shaping the design decisions. Addressing these conditions required an iterative and research-driven approach, combining spatial flexibility, efficient circulation strategies and sustainable design principles to create an adaptable and future-oriented environment. - Project Duration
- The project, with a total construction area of 120,000 sqm on a 30,000 sqm site, is located within the Tobb Etu Campus in Yenimahalle, Ankara. The design process commenced on 21 February 2025 and was completed on 9 September 2025.
- Operation Flow
- The project was developed through an intensive and collaborative design process involving a multidisciplinary team of approximately 50 professionals, including consultants. The spatial organization supports clear and efficient circulation, enabling smooth interaction between different functional areas. The layout promotes accessibility, connectivity and user engagement, allowing seamless movement across the building while encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Research
- This study presents the design and development process of the Tobb Etu Technopark, a 120,000 sqm science and technology facility located within the Tobb Etu Campus in Ankara. Conceived as a nature-integrated innovation environment, the project establishes a continuous relationship between the built form and the adjacent 30 Agustos City Park, promoting user well-being, creativity, and a collaborative research culture.
Comprehensive site analyses, including topography, multi-level access strategies, and pedestrian–vehicular circulation, informed the spatial organization. The development consists of two interconnected blocks structured around a central atrium, with flexible floor plates designed to accommodate R&D centers, laboratories, and workshops. High-clearance basement levels support technical and laboratory functions, while vertically integrated circulation systems enable efficient movement of people, materials, and services.
The study demonstrates how integrated planning, environmental sensitivity, and infrastructural flexibility can collectively support continuous knowledge production and innovation within contemporary technopark design. - Inspiration
- The inspiration behind the design is the idea of creating a technology-focused environment integrated with nature. The project aims to establish a balanced and continuous relationship between the built environment and the natural landscape. Natural light, green spaces and open areas are considered integral components of the design, fostering an atmosphere that enhances creativity, productivity and interaction. The design follows a holistic approach that addresses both technological advancement and environmental sensitivity, encouraging innovation through a strong connection between users, space and nature.