#Construction of new trade fair hall in the centre of Messe Frankfurt
The interconnecting transportation network does not only provide immediate access to the hall but actually becomes a spatial component of the new build.
Typology trade fair Location Frankfurt a. M. Construction Volume (without parking) GFA 95.070 m², GV 863.300 m³ Client Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH & Co. KG Realisation 2016-2018 Competition 1st prize 2014
#Construction of new trade fair hall in the centre of Messe Frankfurt
The interconnecting transportation network does not only provide immediate access to the hall but actually becomes a spatial component of the new build.
The new trade fair hall is located at the west entrance in the south of the Messe Frankfurt grounds. The two exhibition halls stacked on top of each other are enclosed by a four-storey ring of ancillary rooms and building services. Thus, the halls created are extremely versatile and free from any structural intrusions. The facade design incorporates the fully glazed trade fair transportation system – the Via Mobile. From the outside the moving walkway is visible as a glazed seam in the light exterior skin, which opens up at the entrances, foyers and catering zones creating multi-storey lounges to linger and watch the hustle and bustle of the fair. A total of three entrances in the east, west and on the northern trade fair boulevard provide access to visitors. This layout enables the venue to be separated and several events to take place simultaneously. The required car parking is not positioned on the roof, but in a multi-storey car park attached to the southern side of the hall. As a result, the full distance of the roof is spanned without intermediate supports and photovoltaic panels are installed on top of the new trade fair hall to generate renewable energy.
The Via Mobile is visible in the line graph created by the fully glazed elements in the façade. The peaks mark the entrances, foyers and restaurants.
The diagonally running tension and compression bars of the folded tent ceiling transfer weight and wind forces to complexly shaped junctions through which the supporting structure transfers its large loads from the façade surfaces to the inner hall body.
The building, in which two exhibition levels lie one above the other, measures around 120 by 250 metres in area and 30 metres in height. All secondary functions are arranged on 4 floors at the edges to avoid disturbing fixtures.
A team of 6 colleagues is supervising the development of the project on site.
‘In the first 18 months of the construction period, we had to check around 5000 plans. We usually have about 100-150 plans on the table at one stage.’
Robert Ringhoff
„Im Bauablauf mussten drei Etagen mit Traggerüsten unterstützt werden bis der Beton der Zugbänder ausgehärtet war.”
Matthias Meyn
„During the construction process, three floors had to be supported by shoring and scaffolding until the concrete around the tension members had set.”
Matthias Meyn
