Wednesday, 27 November
Berlin launches global search for ICC investor
Berlin’s iconic International Congress Centre (ICC) may soon see new life, as the Senate begins an international competition to find an investor willing to redevelop the neglected venue.
“We want the best ideas, the most viable concepts that have the potential to revitalise this unique building to actually be submitted here,” stated Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs, who has now been appointed ‘ICC ambassador’.
Once a beacon of futurist architecture, the ICC now faces significant challenges, including asbestos remediation, structural updates, and the need for an entirely new technical infrastructure. The city of Berlin is leasing the building out for just 1 euro on a 99-year period, encouraging redevelopment that will require substantial investment and vision, as the state of Berlin will no longer be contributing financially.
The Senate has broadened its offer by including neighbouring properties, such as the parking lot on the opposite side of the main entrance, valued at 28 million euros, where additional structures (a new hotel or office and event space) could help cross-finance the operation. The parking garage at the southern end of the ICC can also be rebuilt or even demolished. However, there is a restriction: whatever is built in its place can only be as high as the ICC which stands at 80 meters tall.
While hailed as a milestone for the landmark building, the project doesn’t come without risks. The eventual investor must navigate both heritage restrictions and the complexities of repurposing one of Berlin’s most ambitious architectural endeavors.
Proposals are due by March 2026, with construction unlikely to start before 2027.
