Leipzig
Alte Messe
Leipzig, Germany / 04.2025 - 09.2025
With the start of the third construction phase, the refurbishment of the historic Exhibition Hall 12 on the site of the Alte Messe Leipzig is entering its final stage. The contract for the challenging civil engineering works involved in excavating and securing the building pit was awarded to PORR Spezialtiefbau Region Ost in a joint venture with S&S Baugesellschaft. The latter is responsible for the demolition, dismantling and earthworks. The numerous unknowns in the ground, as well as the sensitive handling of the listed building, demand the full expertise of PORR’s special civil engineering team based in Berlin.
Facts & Figures
Company
PORR Spezialtiefbau GmbH
Type
Turnkey construction pits
Runtime
04.2025 - 09.2025
Special civil engineering with a delicate touch
Integration of the historic steel structure in accordance with conservation guidelines
Alongside the Double M Gate, the golden spire topped with a red star on Exhibition Hall 12 is one of the landmarks of the Alte Messe Leipzig. The transformation of this approximately 200-metre-long structure into a versatile building complex is currently one of the largest and most challenging construction projects in Leipzig. To this end, the hall was largely stripped back to ground level. In accordance with heritage conservation requirements, the northern and southern porticoes, as well as eight frames of the historic main structure – a three-aisled, riveted steel construction dating from 1924 – have been preserved.
The first construction phase, which was completed in 2019, involved the heritage-sensitive rehabilitation of the northern end building and its conversion into one of Germany’s most modern municipal archives. Since mid-2023, the second construction phase has been underway to create a high-quality four-storey office and archive complex. Adjacent to this, on a site measuring approximately 50 by 85 metres, a new innovation centre is being built, primarily for biotechnology companies. The client for this third and final construction phase is LGH Leipziger Gewerbehof GmbH & Co. KG.
The complex construction pit and existing structure stabilisation work requires a delicate approach
The construction pit is being dug to a depth of up to 4.8 metres in sections and is largely sloped. As an underground emergency power facility will protrude beyond the building line of the new structure, the PORR special civil engineering team is securing the site drop in this area with a clamped sheet pile wall. Along the portico, the existing structure is underpinned with 1,400 cubic metres of jet-grouted blocks. Steel bracing as well as rear anchoring with 35 strand anchors provide additional stability; in a section where anchoring is not possible, a bracing structure takes on this function. The historic individual foundations of the existing steel frames are also being reinforced and reduced in size using DSV underpinning.
What ultimately counts in the construction business is successfully completed projects. PORR has many of these.
