The Neuroscience Center, designed by BIG, is a groundbreaking facility that unites neurology and psychiatry under one roof. This innovative approach integrates cutting-edge scientific research with the treatment of brain, spinal cord, and nervous system disorders. The 20,000-square-meter building, developed for Aarhus University Hospital, draws inspiration from the folds of the human cortex, making efficient use of limited space while fostering collaboration across hospital departments.
Established in 2009, the Danish Neuroscience Center (DNC) is a world-class institution dedicated to researching and treating the brain—the most complex, efficient, and adaptable organ in the human body. Scheduled to open in 2026, the DNC will be directly connected to Aarhus University Hospital’s existing campus, enhancing collaboration between healthcare, education, and scientific research. This proximity is designed to inspire cross-departmental innovation. The project has also benefited significantly from financial support provided by the Salling Foundation.
The six-story neuroscience center features two-way corridors designed to optimize circulation, alongside a classic atrium that enhances openness and natural light. The building’s folds and twists enclose a central courtyard, mirroring the cerebral cortex’s intricate structure. This design maximizes usable floor space while creating numerous connections, forming intimate workspaces, courtyards, and landscaped areas between floors.
Visitors enter through a spacious reception area leading to the open atrium, which houses an experience center—a public exhibition space designed to encourage communication and engagement. From here, visitors can access the clinic upstairs or enjoy the coffee shop and green courtyard on the ground floor. The center accommodates diverse disciplines, including neurology, nuclear medicine, headache clinics, and psychiatry, each with dedicated spaces tailored to their functions. To prevent fragmentation between specialties, BIG has designed shared spaces based on common functions, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and adaptability for future expansions, reductions, or modifications.
Professor Jens Christian Hedemann Sørensen, Chair of the DNC and Professor of Neurosurgery, highlights the importance of the project: “With strong support from the Salling Foundation and the dedicated collaboration of BIG Architecture, we are closer than ever to realizing the new Danish Neuroscience Center. This facility will establish an optimal framework for neurological research and offer innovative treatments for patients with brain, spinal cord, and neurological disorders. The building itself is like a brain—creating new connections, fostering mutual understanding, and serving as a hub for knowledge sharing. We aim to break down the traditional separation between physical and mental illnesses, and the strategic location of Aarhus University, Aarhus University Psychiatry Center, and this building will play a vital role in advancing this mission. Additionally, the experience center will welcome the public for exhibitions and lectures, linking the ‘Brain House’ with the wider community. This will be a truly iconic building, and I look forward to being involved in every stage of its development.”
The building’s exterior features natural materials such as wood and brick, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that benefits patients and visitors alike. The red concrete facade blends seamlessly with the original brickwork, offering a contrast to the typical sterile white hospital environments. Inside, all office areas are equipped with natural ventilation, and each floor includes an outdoor terrace. The stretched metal window mesh reduces glare and direct sunlight while filtering natural light, ensuring pleasant illumination in offices, laboratories, and examination rooms. The project aims to achieve the DGBN Gold Sustainability Certification, setting a benchmark for hospital design in Denmark.
Project Drawings
△ Architectural Model
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
△ Shape Generation Diagram
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