A think tank with the appeal of an industrial workshop – this is how the Cologne University Foundation envisioned their startup centre. In order to define the spatial requirements and functional processes, the team of kadawittfeldarchitektur involved the future users in the planning from the very beginning. The new work environment was intended to capture the startup spirit and demonstrate the potential for being a second home to its occupants. Of altogether 164 coworking spaces, 44 % are rented permanently by the the university's Gateway Exzellenz startup centre. The remaining areas are available to young firms and services catering to startups.