DESYUM the new visitor center at the DESY research center. Starting in the summer of 2026, the Hamburg campus will be home to an exhibition space, an event venue, and a hub for school groups, other groups, and visiting researchers. DESYUM insights into DESY’s world of research and fosters dialogue between science and the public. With its central location in the future Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld, its distinctive design, and its permanent science exhibition, the futuristic building is intended to become a magnet for guests and researchers alike and a staple among Hamburg’s attractions.
Multimedia exhibition
The centerpiece of the DESYUM is the exhibition on the two lower floors of the six-story building. It presents DESY's diverse research - from the search for the smallest building blocks of matter to the world of biomolecules and nanomaterials to a look into the remotest corners of the universe. The exhibits not only present the science, but also the impressive equipment needed for it: kilometer-long particle accelerators, huge telescopes, sensitive X-ray cameras and insanely fast quantum computers.
Exhibits to take part in
The DESYUM exhibition is multimedia-based and its exhibits encourage visitors to get involved. Visitors can construct their own virtual accelerator and playfully find out how powerful X-ray flashes can be used to simulate meteorite impacts or detect active medical ingredients. 3D films take visitors from the world of quarks to the limits of space. In an interactive installation, DESY employees introduce themselves - from trainees to chief scientists.
Diverse events
Admission to the exhibition is free and open to everyone. In future, DESYUM will also have space for special exhibitions and events - such as the "Science Café", where DESY employees report on and discuss their research. Several seminar rooms are available for workshops, meetings and lectures, and there is also a café for everyone and a souvenir store. From the roof terrace, guests and employees can enjoy a sweeping view over the DESY campus and the west of Hamburg.
Sustainable architecture
The DESYUM building will be designed by the renowned firm HPP Architekten and built very close to the DESY main entrance. Its futuristic façade symbolizes the connection to research and is inspired by particle physics - if you look closely, you can see the circular paths of classic electron accelerators. The biodiverse green roof is part of an ecological compensation area and promotes the storage of rainwater.
Contact us
© DESY, Marta Mayer
Christian Mrotzek
Project manager DESYUM
© DESY, Marta Mayer