Mendelssohn Hall, 2025

Located on the seventh floor of the iconic Industrie- und Handelskammer Berlin building on Fasanenstraße, Mendelssohn Hall unfolds over two levels, weaving together recent architectural history and contemporary design. Situated directly beneath the distinctive vaulted roof, the hall provides a design response to the building’s organic language, originally conceived by Nicholas Grimshaw — affectionately known in Berlin as the “Armadillo.”

A generous foyer with lounge and catering areas, complemented by large screens, extends the hall and creates a spatial sequence that encourages both communication and presence. Mendelssohn Hall thus becomes a place of exchange — between people, disciplines, and ideas.

The hall is named after Franz Mendelssohn, former president of the IHK Berlin (1914–1931)

Category

Offices

Location

Berlin Charlottenburg

Typology

BIMInteriorRefurbishment

Status

Completed

Timeline

2023 − 2025

Gross floor area

460 m²

Service phases

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Client

Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin (IHK)

Photography

Jens Ahner

Form, Function and Vision

The complex geometry of the roof required precise coordination between architecture, interior design, and technical infrastructure. The new design draws on principles developed for the “Business Welcome Center” on the ground floor and reinterprets them within the context of the existing building. Conceived as the central spatial element, the ceiling was re-envisioned both in formal and functional terms: acoustic performance and fire protection were integrated into an aesthetic concept inspired by the layered structure of an armadillo’s scales — a homage to Grimshaw’s biomorphic design language.

„Contemporary design in dialogue with the existing building meets the requirements of both personal communication and digital transformation.“
— Christian Meinert

Digital Precision in Planning

The spatially complex structure of the hall was fully modeled in 3D based on precise laser measurements. All technical disciplines — from media technology and ventilation to safety systems — were integrated into the BIM workflow to ensure coordinated, clash-free execution.

Spatial Program and Technical Equipment

The hall accommodates up to 100 people for lectures and around 40 participants for committee meetings. A 5.5-meter-wide 4K LED media wall with a 240-inch diagonal, along with state-of-the-art audio and camera systems, enables hybrid formats and high-quality multimedia presentations. For committee meetings, the technical setup and furniture ensure that every participant can be seen and heard, allowing for active engagement in video conferences. The equipment also supports training sessions, examinations, and press conferences.