The Hasso Plattner Institute is a university Centre of Excellence. The eponymous donor is Professor Hasso Plattner, the cofounder of SAP AG. The newbuild and extension to the main building houses three departments: the institute management, sections of the research school and the School of Design Thinking. The centrepiece is a 600 m2 foyer flooded with light that stretches over four storeys. It illustrates the spirit of ambition and the transparent, open atmosphere. The clarity of the design is also reflected in the wide sweep of the projecting, attractive unitised glass façades.