We received the sad news that architect Ernst M. Kopper passed away. The CeMM building was designed by architect Kopper who created a structure full of light with much open space for the needs and comfort of modern molecular biology laboratories, for the work and life of scientists, as well as room to house sophisticated high-tech scientific equipment.

Ernst M. Kopper was born 1945 in Schulberg near Graz. After studying architecture at Graz University of Technology he spent some diploma and internship years in Rome and Munich. Since 1975 he has lived in Vienna. Since 1984 he worked as an independent architect, but also in co-operations, within the scope of projects. He was specialized in research buildings and has realized among other things the Vienna Biocenter, the Center for Medical Research in Graz, lab buildings of the General Hospital of Vienna and the lecture hall center of the University of Vienna at the old AKH campus.

The eastern side of the CeMM building is adorned by a stunning glass façade, designed by Austrian multi-media artist Peter Kogler.

Ernst M. Kopper: “A lot is said in Austria about ‘Kunst am Bau’ for public buildings. I believe that CeMM is one of the best examples of how to integrate great art into a building.”

Excerpt from the Round table discussion that was published in the CeMM Research Report 2010: The architect, the artist, the scientific director: a conversation on the building and the façade (PDF).

To the CeMM directors, Architect Kopper was of great importance. His trust in the work of the institute, his creative mind, and his thought-provoking statements and Christmas cards will be dearly missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former collaborators.

We will remember him as a person of broad interest, as an expert that was open for new ideas, fostering an exchange of opinions and different views. We express our gratitude for all he did for CeMM and the scientific community. His architecture will continue to inspire us, also in future!

For the entire CeMM Community 
Giulio Superti-Furga, Scientific Director and Anita Ender, Administrative Director