Das Center/BahnTower

Das Center, formerly known as the Sony-Center located at Potsdamer Platz was built in the year 2000 according to the design of architect Helmut Jahn in collaboration with PWP Landscape Architecture. It is located in a prime central location. The 113,000 m² building complex is considered one of Berlin’s landmarks and every year it attracts around 7 million visitors from all over the world.

It is considered a symbol of forward-looking urban development and was acquired in 2017 by Oxford Properties Group, a global investor, developer and manager in the real estate sector. The master plan for the redevelopment was presented in a joint press conference on 4th November 2021 by Oxford Properties, JAHN Architects and PWP Landscape Architecture.

Category

OfficesRetail

Location

Berlin Mitte

Typology

EntertainmentHospitality / Food + BeveragesOfficesRebuildRetailTenant Fit-Out

Status

in progress

Timeline

2020 - 2024

Gross floor area

24.000 sqm (BahnTower) + 17.000 sqm

Service phases

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

Design

JAHN Architects, PWP Landscape Architecture

Client

Sochribel Fixtures GmbH

Photography

Realace GmbH, Robert Agnell Architects, Studio Odey and Kinzo

(c) Robert Agnell Architects

Das Center, formerly known as the Sony-Center includes a total of 8 buildings with different uses, such as offices, retail, leisure and residential. The eastern end of the Sony Center is formed by a high-rise building with approximately 24,000 m² of high-quality office space, whose tenant is Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway company. In November 2020, Oxford Properties Group commissioned AUKETT + HEESE with the interior design of the 103m high and 26-storey office building, so-called Bahntower.

(c) Quincy Quartey_Studio Odey

In addition to the architectural significance, special focus is placed on employees to create office spaces that meet all the requirements of a modern, flexible working environment and optimize health and well-being. The office areas will be reorganized from originally cellular offices to flexible units and layouts. The lobby is also being comprehensively refurbished in order to create an interactive place for meeting and exchange. Deutsche Bahn, the largest tenant in the Center, is expected to move back into its refurbished premises at the end of 2023.

(c) Quincy Quartey_Studio Odey

In addition to the modernization of the Bahntower, AUKETT +HEESE is also working on the conversion of the former Cinestar cinema into a fitness & leisure facility as well as the conversion and deconstruction of the IMAX cinema in cooperation with JAHN Architecture. This will create new offices and food court areas. The project management for the conversion of the Center is provided by SMV Bauprojektsteuerung IG.

(c) Studio Odey and Kinzo

(c) Realace GmbH

(c) Robert Agnell Architects

— Behind the Scenes