VCC topped out

New milestone for the Center for Visual Computing of Collectives (VCC): On 10 October 2019, representatives from the University of Konstanz, Vermögen and Bau Baden-Württemberg (Amt Konstanz) as well as the mayor of the City of Konstanz celebrated the traditional roofing ceremony for the new research building ZT (VCC).

New milestone for the VCC: On 10 October 2019, Professor Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector of the University of Konstanz, Professors Daniel Keim and Iain Couzin from the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” as well as Thomas Steier, chief site manager on behalf of Vermögen and Bau Baden-Württemberg (Amt Konstanz), attended the topping out ceremony, which was followed by a traditional topping out feast. The formal greeting was delivered by Uli Burchardt, mayor of the City of Konstanz.

The ceremony marked the completion of the building’s basic structure, which was accomplished within 15 months of the foundation stone being laid. With basic dimensions of 16 x 46 metres, the new VCC building (the future research building ZT) is rising in the north-eastern area of the university campus. Seven floors tall and with two basement levels, the Center for Visual Computing of Collectives will support the research carried out by the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” by providing state-of-the-art, globally unique infrastructure for uncovering decision-making strategies in animal collectives.

Within the coming weeks the roof will be completed and sealed and the windows put in, followed by further interior construction work. By middle of 2020, the VCC’s intricate technology will be switched on for testing and two pieces of large equipment, the “Data Theatre” and the “Imaging Hangar”, as well as additional lab spaces will be installed. The VCC will open in spring 2021.