EUROPE - A triumvirate of a Senator, architect and Messe Berlin struck the symbolic opening hammer blows signaling construction of the new CityCube Berlin venue.
The ceremony was part of the process of laying the foundation stone on 5 July, for the new congress, trade fair andevent arena in the German capital.
The venue will be a multi-purpose hall located within the Berlin ExpoCenter City grounds. It will be able to host events for up to 10,000 participants and will have a plenary space for up to 5,000 delegates.
The first events are expected to take place within 18 months.
The first hammer blows were struck by Michael Müller, Berlin’s Senator for Urban Development and the Environment, Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messel Berlin and Volker Giezek, Proprietor of Code Unique Architekten, Dresden.
“Trade fairs have become a vital economic factor for Berlin”, Müller said.
“The laying of the foundation stone therefore represents an investment not only for the company but for Berlin as a whole. I am also delighted that the architectural competition has resulted in a building that will be not only extremely functional but has also been attractively designed.”
Giezek, whose company’s plans won the international, said the project was characterised by the need to create a building of a high architectural and functional quality within ambitious cost and time constraints.
Hosch said that Messe Berlin had long needed more exhibition and event space to reduce the backlog of demand.
The multi-purpose exhibition hall will also be used to stage congresses while the ICC Berlin is being renovated.
Hosch promised to bring in the project on budget. “The budget of €76m for the demolition of the Deutschlandhalle and the construction of the CityCube Berlin will be adhered to,” he said.
A casket was laid besided the foundation stone, containing copies of Berlin daily newspapers from 5 July 2012, architects’ drawings and the building’s horoscope.
CityCube plans provide for smaller meeting rooms as well as meetings rooms and offices on the upper floor.
Berlin will also become home to new multi-purpose exhibition grounds at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport later this year.
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