Berlin, October 6, 2025
Official ground-breaking ceremony: Copyright DHZC/Sarah Paff
The new building for the German Heart Center of the Charité (DHZC) is being built on the Virchow-Klinikum campus, creating one of the largest and most modern heart centers in Europe. The symbolic foundation stone for the building was laid today. The ceremony marks an important milestone on the path to the future of Berlin’s cardiac medicine. Among those present were Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health Tino Sorge, and Berlin’s Senator for Health Dr. Ina Czyborra.
The new building for the DHZC sets a strong example for the future-oriented development of the Virchow-Klinikum campus. Spanning 17 floors and a usable area of approximately 30,000 square meters, it will house one of the largest and most modern heart centers in Europe, with 320 patient beds and a total of 20 operating rooms, hybrid operating rooms, and cardiac catheterization laboratories. With an integrated central emergency room and a central sterile supply unit, the new building also has campus-wide significance for Berlin University Medical Center.
With its innovative design and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the approximately 70-meter-tall building sets new standards for cardiac medicine of the future and is intended as a model hospital for digitalization – featuring the latest communications technology, robotics systems, and a new hospital information system. Based on the principles of “Healing Architecture,” a “health center” is being created that focuses not only on healing, but also on prevention, support, and personal care. The architecture and furnishings are oriented toward the well-being of patients as well as the needs of employees.
Furthermore, the new building will be constructed sustainably and resource-efficiently: durable, recyclable materials, low-emission building materials, and a sustainable energy concept with heat recovery and efficient building technology will be used. The roof areas will be landscaped and partially equipped with photovoltaics.
In addition to treating patients with cardiovascular diseases at the highest level, the new DHZC building also focuses on research, teaching, and translation. Around 10 percent of the total space is explicitly designated for scientific facilities, laboratories, study offices, and teaching units. A dedicated study center enables efficient planning and conduct of clinical trials. Translational research also plays a major role: scientists and physicians work closely together to quickly translate research results into clinical application.
The State of Berlin is financing the construction project with €421 million, and the federal government is contributing €100 million of the total cost of €521 million. Completion of the new building is planned for the end of 2028, and commissioning is planned for summer 2029.
Comments on the groundbreaking ceremony for the new German Heart Center (DHZC):
Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin: “One of the largest and most modern university heart centers in Europe is being built at the Charité. The new building is another important milestone on our path to positioning Berlin as an internationally leading science, research, and healthcare center. One of Berlin’s largest construction projects combines outstanding cutting-edge research with state-of-the-art medical care for patients with cardiovascular diseases.”
Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space: “The German Heart Center (DHZC) at the Charité will create one of the most modern heart clinics in Europe, a pioneer of high-tech medicine, and a driver of innovation. As a digital model hospital, the new building will further advance digitalization and the use of AI in cardiac medicine and set new standards in research and translation. Together, we are demonstrating that Germany is capable of cutting-edge technology.”
Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health: “The DHZC stands for high quality of treatment, cross-sectoral medical care, and clear specialization. The new building will make this cutting-edge medical care even more digital, modern, and networked. Thus, the DHZC will become a model for integrated high-performance medicine.”
Dr. Ina Czyborra, Senator for Science, Health, and Care of the State of Berlin: “The new DHZC building is far more than a construction project—it is a visible symbol of shared responsibility, courage, and shaping the future. A highly specialized clinic is being built here that will raise healthcare in the capital region to a new level. It not only offers excellent conditions for interdisciplinary learning, research, and work at the highest level, but also an attractive working and training environment that fully meets the growing demand for highly qualified specialists.”
Prof. Heyo K. Kroemer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Charité: “The new building for the German Heart Center at Charité is a strategic milestone in our campus transformation. Research, teaching, clinical care, and innovation are uniquely intertwined here. This makes the new building a central pillar of Charité’s Strategy 2030 and a center with international renown.”
Prof. Hans Maier, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the German Heart Center Foundation: “The German Heart Center Foundation has always stood for excellence in research, teaching, and patient care. With our long-term commitment, we are strengthening not only the German Heart Center (DHZC), but also the entire science and industry cluster in Berlin on its path to becoming an international center of medical excellence. With today’s groundbreaking ceremony, we are setting another milestone in this direction.”
Astrid Lurati, Charité’s Chief Financial Officer and Director of Infrastructure: “In times of economic challenges at the federal and state levels, it is a sign of shared recognition of the Charité’s outstanding cardiac science and care services to build a modern building. Our responsibility is to consistently build economically while simultaneously meeting the highest standards of quality and sustainability. I would like to sincerely thank all our partners in politics, administration, and the construction industry for their tremendous support and close cooperation.”
Prof. Volkmar Falk, Medical Director of the DHZC: “With the new building, we are creating a place that offers patients the best possible care, provides our employees with a highly attractive working environment, and strengthens close collaboration with private practice and clinical partners. The DHZC will thus become the central hub in a cardiac care network that extends far beyond Berlin.”
About Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
With more than 100 clinics and institutes on four campuses and 3,293 beds, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. With an average of around 20,600 employees across Charité and an average of around 24,300 across the group, Charité will remain one of the capital’s largest employers in 2024. As an institution of cutting-edge medicine, Charité is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of particularly serious, complex, and rare diseases. It enjoys a high reputation worldwide and, as a medical faculty and university hospital, combines first-class healthcare with excellent research and innovation, as well as modern teaching and high-quality training. The focus is always on people and their health. Translational research applies scientific findings to prevention, diagnostics, and therapy, and clinical observations are used to develop new research approaches. Charité’s goal is to actively shape the future of medicine for the benefit of patients.
About the German Heart Center at Charité (DHZC)
The German Heart Center at Charité (DHZC) is a specialized clinic for cardiovascular diseases. It was created in early 2023 through the merger of the cardiac medicine facilities of the German Heart Center Berlin and the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The DHZC is located on Charité’s three clinical campuses: the Virchow-Klinikum Campus, the Charité Mitte Campus, and the Benjamin Franklin Campus. It comprises a total of seven clinics and one institute. With 474 beds, around 20,000 inpatients annually, and 2,100 employees, the DHZC is one of the largest cardiac centers in Europe. More information: www.dhzc.charite.de
About the German Heart Center Foundation
The German Heart Center Foundation is an independent non-profit organization established by the State of Berlin to strengthen the capital’s status as an international center of excellence for cardiovascular medicine. Together with the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the foundation operates the DHZC, promotes cutting-edge medicine, research and development as well as international cooperation, and supports training and continuing education through the DHZB Academy so that people receive the best possible cardiac care today and in the future.