Luther advises Essen's Exhibition Centre on construction of the "New Essen Exhibition Centre"

Modernisation of Essen's Exhibition Centre can now begin in May 2016 as planned: at the end of November 2015, Messe Essen GmbH gave the go-ahead for a modernisation and building project. Bilfinger Hochbau GmbH has been appointed as the general contractor. German Law firm Luther advised the Exhibition Centre throughout the tendering and contracting process, and during project restructuring following a public referendum.

The award of the Exhibition Centre modernisation project to the general contractor marks the end of an intensive municipal process of national importance. The complex procurement procedure was designed to be time-optimised and legally compliant, meaning the contract could be awarded to the general contractor several weeks earlier than planned. At the end of the 2014, Essen City Council also confirmed investment worth EUR 88.6 million as part of the tendering process.

Achim Meier and Martin Steuber from Luther's legal team in Essen were in charge of the consultation. "We're delighted to have the chance to support the Essen Exhibition Centre during such a significant and ambitious lighthouse project for the region, and we're particularly pleased achieving success following a redesign after public opinion was initially against modernisation," explains Achim Meier. "The fact that the contract was awarded so quickly shows that, in spite of tight scheduling requirements, we were able to include bidders at an early stage in the review of the planning documents we had obtained from an architectural competition," adds Martin Steuber.

About the renovation of Exhibition Centre grounds

One of the most significant improvements will be the removal of the two-storey halls. Five huge new halls with optimised logistics are planned to replace the fourteen existing halls, which are divided into small areas internally, in the north of the site. The work will also deliver a modern glass lobby of about 2,000 sq m. in the eastern entrance area and new facades on the east and north walls. Modernisation work across the Exhibition Centre site also includes its energy supply and air conditioning systems, as well as adding space in the current lobby area to improve the offering for conference and convention areas.

About Essen Exhibition Centre

Essen Exhibition Centre holds 50 trade fairs and exhibitions, including ten leading fairs, making it one of the top 10 exhibition centres in Germany. Specialist and consumer fairs bring in around 1.4 million visitors a year.

On behalf of Essen Exhibition Centre

Luther, Real estate law: Achim Meier (Partner), Martin Steuber, LL.M. (Counsel) (both Essen) and Dr. Philipp Pröbsting (Partner, Dusseldorf)

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