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Heidelberg Conventions
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69117 Heidelberg
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Visualisierung des Gewinnerentwurfs für das Konferenzzentrum (Visualisierung: DEGELO Architekten)

New Convention Center

the conference venue in Bahnstadt

Heidelberg is a science city and a strong business location. Research institutes, companies and associations regularly hold conferences, congresses and conventions in the city. However, due to insufficient capacity it is often no longer possible to hold events above a certain size or to stage several events simultaneously in Heidelberg. A needs assessment survey was conducted with the active involvement of the local people in 2013. The outcome: Heidelberg needs a new convention center. With the close involvement of the people of Heidelberg, a location was found which offers optimum design and development opportunities and excellent transport links: the Bahnstadt district. During the fourth phase of this public participation, an architectural competition was organized with the involvement of local people and the winners decided by a jury. First prize was awarded to Basel-based DEGELO Architekten. The local council commissioned the winning firm of architects to plan the convention center in April 2018.

1,800-seat main auditorium

The wave-like structure of the external façade conjures up the image of a curtain concealing a stage. This design creates a lively play of light and shade across the concrete façade. Two large window façades at the entrance provide a view into the building’s interior. The main entrance opens into the white interior, with a main lobby almost as high as the building itself – one of the centerpieces of the two-storey convention center. The lobby offers access to the main auditorium, the ceiling of which reaches 15 meters at its apex before sloping down towards the stage. The auditorium has the required capacity to seat 1,800 people in tiers.

The center also houses a public restaurant which, as well as having a separate entrance, can open onto the main auditorium and main lobby. There will also be outdoor eating facilities to meet the demands of a lively convention center. Plans for the second floor include a gallery, a secondary lobby, a smaller auditorium with 800 tiered seats, and conference rooms. Trucks will be loaded and unloaded inside the building, with access via Czernyring and Einsteinstrasse, in order to reduce disturbance to the neighborhood through noise and emissions. The convention center is designed to meet passive house construction standards – as are all buildings in Bahnstadt.

It is planned that construction will be carried out by the City’s own construction and services company BSG. This brings to a conclusion around 25 years of discussion concerning the construction of a new convention center for Heidelberg.