The grammar school, which was created by a parents' initiative, was built in several phases up until the 1980s. The building features elements typical of the 1950s, such as the flying roof, the large glass façades in the so-called "pavilion" section and the visible prefabricated concrete elements. However, it was not until the classroom wing in the main building was completed in 1960 that the school was able to start operating properly. The assembly hall and gymnasium were added later. The last extension took place in 2016 with the expansion of the H-building. The Max-Planck-Gymnasium has also been home to an observatory run by the AVKa since 1979.