construction of OMA-designed axel springer campus captured by nils koenning

in 2014, OMA was chosen ahead of bjarke ingels group and büro ole scheeren to construct axel springer’s media campus in central berlin. the german company will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the opening of its new building, which will be located opposite its existing headquarters on the site of the former linden park. the new structure will comprise a series of terraced floors that form a ‘valley’. this creates an informal stage at the center of the building, where ideas can be broadcast to other parts of the company.

axel springer’s new media campus is under construction in central berlin
image © nils koenning (also main image)

now, three years after breaking ground, construction on the project is well underway. a new set of images taken by photographer nils koenning documents the building’s current status, with its floorplates in place and its dramatic atrium occupied by scaffolding. two cranes hover above the construction site, while the lower levels are beginning to receive their angled glass and gold cladding.

the german company will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the launch of the new building
image © nils koenning

furthermore, the public can experience the building on three levels: the ground floor lobby, which contains studios, event, and exhibition spaces; the meeting bridge, a viewing platform where visitors can witness the daily functioning of the company; and a roof-top bar. the project — which signifies axel springer’s move from print to digital media — has special significance to OMA founder rem koolhaas, who was a journalist before beginning his architectural studies.

the new structure will comprise a series of terraced floors that form a ‘valley’
image © nils koenning