Estrel Tower: A Vertical Leap for Berlin’s Meetings Industry

Yet the Tower is more than a new architectural landmark; it is the next chapter in a story that began three decades ago with the original Estrel Berlin.

Since its founding more than 30 years ago, the Estrel has grown to become Europe’s largest hotel, congress, and entertainment complex. Its significance for Berlin’s economy and its reputation as a major meetings destination is well established—something even Berlin’s political leadership acknowledges. “With the Estrel Tower, not only Berlin’s skyline is growing—our position as a leading European congress and convention destination is being strengthened even further,” said Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Senator for Economy, Energy and Enterprise, at the Tower’s topping-out ceremony in March 2025.

Reimagining the Future of Events

The Estrel Tower has been designed to meet the growing need for adaptable, hybrid-ready spaces that foster co-creation, creativity, and collaboration. Its mixed-use concept reflects a significant shift in how events are conceived: no longer as isolated moments, but as part of an immersive experience. From its light-flooded atrium to coworking lounges, rooftop bars, and panoramic event spaces, the building aims to integrate work, rest, and networking.

Set across 3,800 square metres of event space and 9,300 square metres of coworking areas, the Tower will feature flexible meeting zones across several floors, including the Sky Floors on levels 41 and 42. These high-altitude spaces offer over 1,200 square metres of meeting and hospitality areas, topped off with a spectacular 43^rd-floor restaurant and bar overlooking Berlin’s cityscape. There will also be 522 designer rooms, suites, and serviced apartments.

The building is physically connected to the original Estrel Hotel and Congress Center via a tunnel, ensuring continuity of service, logistics, and operations—a practical move, but one that also signals a seamless extension of legacy.

Designing for Sustainability at Scale

But perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the Estrel Tower lies in its environmental credentials. From the outset, the project has aimed to attain LEED Platinum certification, the highest standard in the globally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design framework.

“The special dimension of sustainability that we want for the tower has taken us a little more time,” said Clemens Planck, Head of Construction at Estrel Tower. “Only by carefully implementing the 45 criteria in numerous categories can we achieve the highest level of certification”.

To reach that level, the team has had to go far beyond energy-efficient lighting and water-saving systems. Materials were scrutinised down to the adhesives and sealants; only products meeting stringent VOC (volatile organic compound) emission thresholds could be used. Wood must be PEFC or FSC certified, and construction waste management, air quality monitoring, and even daylight modelling are all part of the compliance matrix.

In explaining the choice to pursue LEED rather than Germany’s domestic DGNB certification, Estrel’s sustainability team points to the global recognition of the former. “With this new Tower, we wanted to make a statement—not just locally, but internationally,” notes the project’s internal documentation.

The architectural design by Barkow Leibinger reinforces the Tower’s environmental goals with a façade adapted to the solar orientation of each side. “With its shimmering façade, the Estrel Tower is already an integral part of Berlin’s skyline. It’s very present in the city, visible from many places—a new landmark,” said architect Frank Barkow.

A Signal for Berlin—and Beyond

Berlin’s image as a capital of creativity and experimentation finds a new expression in the Estrel Tower. While the city has no shortage of cultural venues, what it has often lacked is integrated, scalable infrastructure for events that matches its ambition as a business destination. The Estrel Tower addresses that gap directly.

The building is also a sign of Neukölln’s continued development. Once overlooked in the Berlin urban narrative, the district now finds itself at the centre of a reimagined future. District Mayor Martin Hikel called the Tower “a major step for Neukölln’s development and future potential”.

At its core, the Estrel Tower exemplifies how legacy institutions can reinvent themselves without losing sight of what made them relevant in the first place. For Berlin—and for the wider meetings industry—it stands as a vertical statement of intent: future-ready, design-led, and unapologetically ambitious.

Contact & Info: Heike Mahmoud, COO Estrel Berlin / h.mahmoud@estrel.com / estreltower.com