For its open-ended real estate fund hausInvest, Commerz Real has completely acquired the “Mynd” office tower under construction and the “Galeria Weltstadthaus” at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz from SIGNA Prime. Until now, the tangible assets subsidiary of Commerzbank had a 20 percent stake in the complex. As a project development partner, SIGNA will continue to lead the implementation. After completion in 2025, the entire complex is expected to have more than 100,000 square metres of rental space. At the same time, SIGNA Prime acquired the 20 per cent holdings in eight department store properties from hausInvest that the fund had held since 2019. These are three of the premium brand “Galeria Weltstadthaus” at the main station in Frankfurt am Main, Königsallee 1-9 in Düsseldorf and Hohe Straße in Cologne as well as the Häuser Am Wehrhan 1 in Düsseldorf, Rotkreuzplatz/Pötschnerstraße 5 in Munich, Remigiusstraße 20 in Bonn, Ernst-August-Platz 5 in Hanover, and Kurpfalzstraße P1 in Mannheim. Both parties have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the purchase prices. The partnership in the joint project Elbtower in Hamburg remains unaffected by this transaction. In 2022, Hausinvest had invested 25 percent in the mixed-use high-rise building under construction. After completion at the end of 2025, the Landmark property, measuring 244 metres, will be the tallest building in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The transaction in Berlin is still subject to approval by the Federal Cartel Office.

Timo Herzberg, CEO of SIGNA Real Estate, adds: “With the Elbtower in Hamburg’s Hafencity and now the 'Mynd' at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, we are realising two of Germany’s most outstanding high-rise properties together with Commerz Real.”

“Mynd” tower grows out of the department store

The 134-metre-high “Mynd” tower was designed by the Berlin-based architecture firm Kleihues und Kleihues and comprises around 32,000 square metres of flexibly usable office space overlooking Berlin. Keeping them open and spacious, they should be equipped with modern and intelligent technology as well as floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, there are more than 7,000 square metres of communal space, which, according to SIGNA’s plans, will combine different experience areas of a large city in one place as a so-called “Vertical Village”. 1,000 square metres were pledged to the State of Berlin for commercial use for the benefit of the public. The department store will continue as the “Galeria Weltstadthaus”. Moreover, around 2,500 square metres are planned for a high-quality food area and small-scale retail on the first floor and ground floor. On the two upper floors, a so-called food culture market covering around 7,900 square metres is planned to combine enjoyment, culture and shopping. The spacious roof terrace overlooking the Berlin television tower should be publicly accessible.

Pioneering sustainability concept

“In addition to the unique location, we are particularly enthusiastic about the pioneering sustainability concept already during the construction phase,” explains Mario Schüttauf. For example, material savings mean that around 30 percent less concrete is required compared to conventional construction projects and thus less carbon dioxide is emitted. Geothermal energy ensures resource-efficient heating and cooling, and heat and cooling production is also optimised by means of cooling and heat pumps and, above all, by using previously unused waste heat from the existing building. Load peaks are covered by district heating. In addition, a photovoltaic system measuring almost 3,900 square metres accounts for part of the electricity requirement. Only green electricity is used for the residual energy requirement. Other measures include intelligent lighting, elevator and ventilation systems. Around 600 cubic metres of rainwater are also to be used annually. LEED Platinum (ecological sustainability), WELL Gold (health and WELL-being of subsequent users) and Wiredscore (digital networking) certificates are aimed for for the construction project.