Berlin is witnessing an unprecedented period of urban development, with several large-scale construction projects simultaneously underway across the city. These initiatives range from the creation of entirely new city districts to the extensive renovation of historic cultural institutions and significant transportation infrastructure upgrades. The financial scope of these projects varies considerably, with some involving hundreds of millions of euros and others reaching into the billions.
Berlin’s Most Costly Construction Ventures Revealed
Identifying Berlin’s most expensive construction projects is not straightforward, as official rankings often use different metrics. While some projects, like the transformation of the former Tegel Airport or the Siemensstadt Square, represent total investments from multiple public and private stakeholders, others, such as federal buildings or museums, refer to specific project or construction costs. The following overview details nine particularly costly Berlin construction projects, categorized by their currently published investment sums, clarifying the scope of each figure.
Berlin TXL: 8 Billion Euros for a New City District
The largest publicly disclosed investment volume on this list is allocated to Berlin TXL. According to Berlin TXL Management GmbH, the development of the former airport site is expected to cost approximately eight billion euros. This figure does not solely represent public construction costs; the majority of the sum is anticipated to come from private investments. The state, federal government, and the EU are co-financing infrastructure, development, and specific public initiatives.
Located in the Reinickendorf district, at Saatwinkler Damm, 13405 Berlin, the project involves multiple simultaneous developments across its five-square-kilometer area. The Urban Tech Republic is designed to host research, production, and young companies. The adjacent Schumacher Quartier is planned to include over 5,000 apartments for more than 10,000 residents. The project company also announced an additional 4,000 apartments for Cité Pasteur and TXL Nord. Initial civil engineering works began in 2022/2023, with the construction of the first residential buildings in the Schumacher Quartier scheduled for 2026, and the first apartments expected to be completed by 2028. The overall development is projected to continue well into the 2030s, and partly until around 2040.
Siemensstadt Square: Up to 4.5 Billion Euros in Spandau
Following closely is the Siemensstadt Square project, with Siemens estimating a total project volume of up to 4.5 billion euros by 2035. Siemens itself plans to invest 750 million euros. This also represents a total volume encompassing investments from various partners, not solely the construction costs of a single building.
Situated at Nonnendammallee 101, 13629 Berlin, in the Spandau district, this 76-hectare site is transforming a formerly enclosed industrial area into an open urban district with over one million square meters of floor space. It aims to integrate residential, production, research, education, and office spaces. Siemens now projects 3,750 apartments. In June 2026, the company celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the atrium building and a high-rise. In total, approximately 35,000 people are expected to live and work in the district. The project incorporates a digital twin of the district and an energy concept utilizing wastewater heat.
Pergamon Museum: 1.5 Billion Euros for Complete Renovation
The Pergamon Museum stands as one of Germany’s most expensive individual cultural construction sites. The current cost framework for both construction phases, including projected risks, amounts to approximately 1.5 billion euros. In May 2026, the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning confirmed that this sum is not expected to be exceeded based on current forecasts.
Located at Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, in the Mitte district, the work is being carried out in two major phases. Construction phase A began in January 2013. Preparatory work for phase B started in 2023, with the main measures following in March 2025, including the renovation of the south wing and southern central section. Additionally, a fourth wing, new outdoor facilities, and a new Pergamon Bridge over the Kupfergraben are planned. The north wing and central section, housing the Pergamon Altar, are scheduled to reopen on June 4, 2027. The entire museum is currently planned to be accessible by 2037.
State Library Berlin – Potsdamer Straße: 1.1 Billion Euros (Plus Risk Buffer)
The State Library on Potsdamer Straße has also joined Berlin’s billion-euro projects. Approximately 1.1 billion euros have been approved for the entire project. An additional 350 million euros have been allocated for risks and potential construction cost increases, though this reserve is not yet considered a fixed construction cost.
The scale of the project, located at Potsdamer Straße 33, 10785 Berlin, in the Mitte district, explains part of the expense. The Hans Scharoun-designed building encompasses approximately 114,000 square meters of gross floor area. Before the main works begin, about 5.4 million books and other media must be distributed across four locations. Around 650 employees also require temporary relocation. The building is scheduled to close for major renovation starting in 2030. In addition to renewing the building fabric and technology, plans include a new entrance to Marlene-Dietrich-Platz, additional common areas, a cafeteria, and energy efficiency improvements. The main phase is currently expected to be completed by 2041.
Extension of the Federal Chancellery: 777 Million Euros
The extension of the Federal Chancellery is another of Berlin’s most expensive individual building projects. The federal government currently estimates the costs at 777 million euros. The new building is being constructed west of the existing Chancellery, extending the “Band des Bundes” across the Spree.
Located at Willy-Brandt-Straße 1, 10557 Berlin, in the Mitte district, the project includes approximately 400 additional offices in a six-story, semicircular building. It will also feature a canteen, event spaces, a postal and logistics area, and an elevated helicopter landing platform. A new pedestrian bridge will connect the new and existing structures. The shell construction has reached its final height. The federal government estimates a construction period of four to five years from the start of construction in 2023, with completion expected by 2028.
A100 – 16th Section to Treptower Park: Approximately 720 Million Euros for 3.2 Kilometers
The 16th section of the A100 is already complete but is included due to its significant cost. The federal government invested approximately 720 million euros in just 3.2 kilometers of new urban motorway. The section between the Neukölln interchange and Treptower Park opened on August 27, 2025.
This unusually high cost, spanning the Neukölln and Treptow-Köpenick districts, is partly due to the construction method. Approximately 2.3 kilometers run in a trough up to seven meters deep, with another 386 meters in the Grenzallee tunnel. Additionally, there are three interchanges and extensive technical facilities. Construction began in 2013, making the implementation period approximately twelve years.
Museum of Natural History: Approximately 660 Million Euros for Two Locations
The Museum of Natural History Berlin is undergoing one of the largest renovations in its history. The federal and state governments are providing approximately 660 million euros for its long-term development. This sum is not solely for the historic museum building on Invalidenstraße.
Located primarily at Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, in the Mitte district, the future plan includes several construction phases and a second location in Adlershof. At the main building, the renovation of the west wing is currently underway, expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Simultaneously, the museum is planning a new collection and research center in Adlershof, covering approximately 18,000 square meters, with an estimated cost of 107 million euros. This new building will house large parts of the collection, freeing up space at the historic site for further renovations. The overall development is planned until approximately 2035.
“berlin modern”: Currently 507 Million Euros Projected
The “berlin modern” new building has seen multiple changes in costs and deadlines. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation estimated the projected total costs at 507 million euros, including risk provisions, at the topping-out ceremony in October 2025. They also stated that the cost development showed a declining trend. This current official figure replaces older figures of around 364 million euros, which were published without all risk and price increase effects.
This building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is located at Scharounplatz / Ecke Potsdamer Straße, 10785 Berlin, in the Mitte district, between the New National Gallery and the Philharmonie. The excavation of the approximately 16-meter-deep construction pit involved around 130,000 cubic meters of earth. Following the topping-out ceremony in 2025, interior work and technical building equipment are underway. Structural completion is now planned for 2029, followed by museum installation and the relocation of extensive collections. The New National Gallery alone will contribute approximately 5,000 works, in addition to about 30,000 works from the Kupferstichkabinett and other holdings.
Komische Oper: Approximately 477 Million Euros for Renovation and Extension
At the lower end of this high-cost group is the Komische Oper. However, this project is by no means inexpensive. The opera estimates the project cost at 477 million euros. The Berlin budget includes verified construction planning documents for approximately 447.5 million euros for the main measure, with preliminary measures financed separately. The different figures thus refer to different delimitations of the project.
Located at Behrenstraße 55-57, 10117 Berlin, in the Mitte district, since the ensemble moved out in summer 2023, gutting, pollutant removal, investigations, and securing works have been ongoing. The state announced the continuation of the basic renovation for 2026. In addition to the historic opera house, a new functional building is to be constructed on Glinkastraße, housing administration, rehearsal rooms, and technical facilities, among other things. Current official information does not provide a reliable final completion date, so the originally assumed construction period of about six years cannot currently be seriously translated into a fixed opening year.
Diverse Billion-Euro Tasks in Berlin’s Construction Landscape
This overview highlights the difficulty in comparing construction costs directly. Berlin TXL and Siemensstadt Square are large-scale urban developments involving private and public investments over many years. In contrast, the Pergamon Museum, the State Library, or the Federal Chancellery concern individual buildings or clearly defined construction programs. Nevertheless, the figures illustrate the magnitude of the ongoing transformation. The projects considered here alone represent billions of euros, in addition to numerous other projects with significant million-euro sums.
Source: https://www.entwicklungsstadt.de/berlins-teuerste-bauprojekte-diese-9-vorhaben-verschlingen-milliarden/
