Kornmarkt Arkaden

In the heart of Frankfurt, right by the Theatertunnel on the site of the former Federal Court of Auditors, which had been abandoned for years, the Kornmarkt Arkaden emerged—a versatile, urban district that combines a hotel, office spaces, residential units, and retail.

After four years of construction, the project was completed at the end of 2018. The five independent building sections create a new urban space and revive the historical connection between the city center and the Main River.

Through complex construction techniques and visionary architecture, this monument of the early Federal Republic has been transformed into a modern, vibrant urban district that now redefines the city’s urban pulse.

29.950 m²

StadtFrankfurtInvestorOFB ProjektentwicklungOrtFrankfurt, GermanyBauzeit2017 - 2018ArchitektKSP Jürgen Engel ArchitektenTyp Historic building transformation

Special features

After the completion of the architect review process and the division of the property, planning was initiated for the following building components and uses:

BT A: Hotel with 470 rooms and underground parking
BT BC: Office building with underground parking
BT D : Administrative building/renovation of existing building
BT E: Residential building

The biggest challenge was to preserve the historic façade of BT BC and ensure that it harmoniously integrates with the existing building. Close and continuous coordination with the heritage preservation office was essential. At the same time, the transportation authority needed to be closely involved, as the construction pit for the underground parking garage was located directly next to the tram tracks.

Additionally, discussions with the hotel operator and property management took their specific requirements into account. Despite the high complexity of the regulatory approvals, which covered the entire area and the interconnected building components, including the underground parking garage, the demanding process was successfully completed.

Services

Project management

“The special aspect of the Kornmarkt Arcades project was its multi-layered complexity. A national monument, the former Federal Audit Office, needed to be adapted for contemporary use while meeting the highest heritage preservation criteria. Located in the city center between the Theatertunnel, Paulskirche, and the tram at the old Bethmann building, the project also required restructuring the traffic hub at Kornmarkt – Berlinerstraße, presenting numerous technical and logistical challenges.

The former island location of the Federal Audit Office had to be urbanistically redefined through new uses, including a hotel and gastronomy, as well as by creating a north-south passage to connect it to the city. This was only possible through a cohesive team approach by the client.“