LabCampus gains world-leading technology company as its first customer

The LabCampus innovation center being built at Munich Airport has reached its next major milestone: Argo AI, one of the world’s leading technology companies in the autonomous driving sector, will be using the potential at and around LabCampus for testing and development of its vehicles. Established in 2016 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company has partnerships with U.S. car maker Ford and the VW Group. Last year, the latter invested USD 2.6 billion in Argo AI. Since then, Munich has been the European headquarters for Argo AI.

Under the contractual agreement that now, with the agency and consulting services of CBRE GmbH, has been signed, Argo AI will build a test track at Munich Airport and lease space at the first LabCampus office building LAB 48, which is planned to open in 2022. The autonomously driven vehicles are to be tested under realistic conditions in various traffic situations on the test track, which will be built near the aircraft maintenance hangars in the southwestern part of the airport site.

“This deal illustrates the vast potential of the LabCampus as a think tank and test laboratory for forward-looking mobility concepts. Argo AI’s commitment is therefore an important signal to all other firms that can benefit from the vast opportunities of this innovation center,” explained Jost Lammers, Chief Executive Officer of Flughafen München GmbH. Dr. Marc Wagener, Managing Director of LabCampus GmbH, added: “By providing this testing ground at Munich Airport for major players in key industries, we are boosting Bavaria’s appeal and competitiveness as a high-tech location.”

 

LabCampus, the unique cross-industry center at Munich Airport, continues to take shape: After a year of construction, the management teams of Munich Airport, its subsidiary LabCampus GmbH and representatives of the general contractor Züblin joined to celebrate the topping-out ceremony for LAB 48 on the airport site. Due to Corona the ceremony took place only symbolically.

LAB 48 is the first building on the LabCampus and its design reflects its network and innovation character. With an area of around 30,000 square meters, the four-story office building offers its tenants a wide range of possible uses. The overall layout is divided into smaller units that form a multi-faceted facade with large window fronts. While the top floors are intended for tailor-made offices, the first floor serves as a networking and communication forum for all users of the building and their guests. Here, there are the modern lobby in a glass-roofed inner courtyard, showrooms and design studios for developing prototypes as well as gastronomic offerings. The special qualities of this modern building also include exclusive and commonly used terraces.

Construction of LAB 48 began in February 2020, and the building is scheduled to be ready in Q2 2022. The sales and marketing of the office space is managed in cooperation with the sales partner CBRE.