Berlin’s Iconic ICC to Become a Hub for Art, Culture, and Creative Economy
Berlin, June 21 – The International Congress Center (ICC) in Berlin, a striking architectural landmark near the Funkturm, is finally set to embark on a new chapter. After years of speculation and disuse, concrete plans for the future of the immense steel structure will be presented this Wednesday, June 24. The transformation aims to establish the ICC as a globally unique center for art, culture, and the creative economy.
Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Franziska Giffey, has referred to the ICC as a “sleeping beauty.” Located in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, the building has been largely dormant since its closure in 2014, earning it the moniker of the capital’s largest “lost place.” For years, discussions have revolved around how to repurpose what was once Europe’s largest congress center. The upcoming announcement follows a concept procedure initiated in November 2024, which has now concluded.
From Congress Giant to Cultural Landmark
Giffey and Senator for Urban Development, Christian Gaebler (both SPD), are expected to reveal the results of this process. The Economic Administration has already confirmed the overarching vision: “The ICC is to be developed into an internationally unique location for art, culture, and the creative industry.”
Opened in 1979, the ICC defined Berlin’s trade fair and congress landscape for decades, repeatedly earning the World Travel Award as the world’s leading congress center. However, the 313-meter-long, 89-meter-wide, and nearly 40-meter-high steel behemoth, with a gross floor area of 213,021 square meters, was decommissioned in 2014 after pollutants were discovered within its structure.
A Look Back at the ICC’s Illustrious Past
Over 35 years, the ICC welcomed millions of visitors from around the globe, hosting an array of events from Heino concerts to cancer congresses. The last public event before its official closure was a Daimler general meeting. Subsequently, its 80 halls and rooms, with a total of 14,500 seats, saw little use as Messe Berlin constructed a more compact congress hall with lower operating costs. This period was followed by prolonged uncertainty regarding the “Panzerkreuzer’s” fate.
In late 2018, the Berlin Senate announced its intention to breathe new life into the ICC. Many possibilities were considered, with the Berliner Immobilienmanagementgesellschaft (BIM) specifying certain exclusions: “Uses such as a brothel, a casino, or similar purposes are excluded.”
Inspiration from the Centre Pompidou
The following year, a dozen proposals emerged from an expression of interest process, ranging from a congress hotel to a greenhouse. The steel giant was also placed under monument protection that same year.
Former Senator for Economic Affairs, Stephan Schwarz, made significant efforts to bring the ICC back onto the political agenda. In August 2022, he stated, “I have no doubt that the ICC can become a real magnet, as the Centre Pompidou in Paris has successfully demonstrated since the 1970s.” The Centre Pompidou, opened in 1977, houses a museum of modern art and a library, among other institutions. Schwarz acknowledged the long road ahead to transform the ICC into a similar cultural beacon.
Addressing the Renovation Challenge
A major hurdle is the immense need for renovation. Schwarz referenced a 2012 cost estimate of 330 million euros, acknowledging that this figure is now significantly outdated. Despite the financial challenges, he expressed optimism: “I will do everything I can to ensure we make progress and give this magnificent building back to the people of Berlin.”
In 2021 and 2022, the building briefly reopened for cultural events. The following year, it was accessible to the public for 48 hours free of charge. In September 2025, the decommissioned congress center extended its public access for the “49 h ICC” project, offering an additional hour.
Public Engagement and Future Operators
These events included architectural tours, contemporary witness discussions, and activities like yoga, cycling, running, and lightsaber workshops. Thousands of visitors seized the opportunity to explore the “spaceship” from within.
In late autumn 2024, an international competition for the future use of the enormous building was launched. The State of Berlin announced its intention to lease the ICC to an operator for 99 years under a hereditary building right.
Last October, the Economic Administration revealed that the concept procedure would proceed with only one bidding group comprising several companies. Other applicants had not met the requirements of the participation competition sufficiently and were therefore not admitted to the next round, according to the Economic Administration.
According to a report by the “Berliner Morgenpost,” the operators of the Spinnerei art and creative complex in Leipzig are expected to manage the ICC in the future. The coordinating role will be taken by MIB AG, based in Berlin and Leipzig. The Economic Administration confirmed to dpa that the Senate would address the matter on Tuesday, stating, “We will present the official award recommendation of the steering committee on Wednesday as planned.”
