Welcome to the most spectacular converted colliery in Europe with its striking industrial charm that leaves no one indifferent. After a year of planning in 2022, a spectacular event location was created in 2023, just in time for the resurgence of the event industry. Industrial chic and event chic form an inimitable symbiosis here for large and small events.
von Urs Seiler || 17. February 2025
Unesco World Heritage: The Grand Hall ZOLLVEREIN® on the grounds of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen exudes its own magic. It stands for sophisticated events in an extraordinary atmosphere - designed and realised from a single source. Following the conversion of the historic compressor hall, located in the former coking plant, around 4,000 square metres of event space has been opened up on three levels. The hall, foyer, club and former switch house offer innovative and sustainable options in the B2B segment: for conferences, congresses, events or trade fairs of almost any size and for up to 2,500 people. The Zollverein Coal Mine and Coking Plant was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 14 December 2001 as the ‘Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex’. Since then, the former industrial complex has officially been one of the most important cultural assets in the world.
Today, 150 to 200 days a year are as busy as they were when gas was converted into electrical energy here. Stages are set up in the Grand Hall, lighting designs are programmed and catering is prepared. And, incidentally, top-class events are organised that could not speak more clearly for the Ruhr region and Essen as a business location.
from left: the foyer, der club area und a congress at the Grand Hall.
This also applies to events from the scientific sector, banks, insurance companies, associations, institutions and other organisations of socio-political relevance, from E.ON and Evonik to RWE and the electricity producer AXPO from Baden in Switzerland, which is holding its exhibitor event here in parallel with its participation in E-World at the neighbouring Messe Essen. A total of 1800 tonnes of steel were dismantled for the conversion of the compressor hall into the Grand Hall event location - a mammoth project. The Zollverein Foundation also offers a virtual 360-degree tour.
Breathtaking: the Grand-Hall's environment.
The completely preserved Zollverein colliery and coking plant complex is a total work of art and exemplifies the social, economic, aesthetic and industrial history of the coal and steel age. Even today, the symmetrical arrangement of the buildings on two visual axes is captivating. The 20 individual buildings depict the technical work and production processes of coal mining in accordance with the Bauhaus maxim that form should be orientated towards function.
In this respect, the neo-Objective steel framework architecture on the Zollverein colliery's XII shaft, which went into operation in 1932, and on the Zollverein coking plant, which was built in the 1950s in the same formal language, represents an independent variant of the Bauhaus concept. It is an expression of the close connection between industrial design and architecture, influenced the industrial architecture of subsequent generations and earned Zollverein a reputation as the ‘most beautiful colliery in the world’ even when it was still in operation. (Source: www.zollverein.de)
The leading protagonists: Sustainability is not a trend, it is responsibility
«Sustainability is not a trend for us, but a responsibility. With the new heat pump, which runs entirely on green electricity, we are making another important contribution to climate protection. At the same time, we guarantee our guests a pleasant and constant room temperature in every season - without harming the environment. This technology is not only highly efficient, but also forward-looking and shows that events can also be organised in a sustainable and climate-friendly way», explains Tom Koperek, Managing Director of the Grand Hall (picture on the right).
Gary Pott (picture, left) has been Managing Director of Grand Hall ZOLLVEREIN® GmbH since 2016. The World Heritage Site has long been familiar territory for him - he was a member of the management team at Casino Zollverein for several years, which is also located in a former industrial hall next to the Grand Hall. Born in Sauerland, he gained extensive experience in the hotel, catering and event sector in Sheraton hotels in Essen and London and Hilton hotels in Hawaii and Israel.
Tom Koperek (picture, right) is managing partner of Grand Hall ZOLLVEREIN® GmbH. He is also a board member of ‘fwd: Bundesvereinigung Veranstaltungswirtschaft’ and the main initiator of #AlarmstufeRot. The campaign alliance of committed companies achieved media attention across Europe with the ‘Night of Light’. Around 9,000 important buildings in Germany were illuminated with red light to draw attention to the plight of the event industry due to Corona 2020. In total, over 40,000 participants from more than 8,000 companies took part.
Sustainability in the event industry: Grand Hall commissions heat pump for climate-friendly room air cooling with 100% green electricity
The Essen event location Grand Hall Zollverein is taking a decisive step towards climate protection and has opted for a particularly environmentally friendly solution for cooling its premises. A state-of-the-art heat pump, which is powered by 100% renewable energy, ensures efficient and climate-friendly room temperature control for all events and functions.
This advanced technology utilises the natural resources of the environment by absorbing heat from the air and processing it to cool the rooms. The heat pump is powered 100% by electricity from renewable sources - in particular wind and solar energy. In this way, the Grand Hall Zollverein not only reduces energy consumption, but also actively contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. This measure is in line with the clear goal of reducing CO2 emissions at trade fairs and events to zero in the long term, while at the same time increasing comfort for guests.
Thanks to its advanced technology, the air conditioning system that has now been installed is not only particularly energy-efficient, but also quiet and virtually maintenance-free - an ideal solution for climate-friendly cooling of event spaces with high visitor numbers. The Grand Hall Zollverein has already been extremely active in terms of sustainability for some time: it uses only green electricity, heats with climate-friendly district heating, has optimised its waste management and relies on regional suppliers and service providers for particularly resource-friendly events.
Sustainable and trustworthy
from left: trade fair, gala and banquet at the Grand Hall.
Regional suppliers, modern district heating, LED lighting and a complete supply of green electricity - energy consumption in the Grand Hall is kept as low as possible. The former industrial hall on the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site also employs an internal sustainability officer, who oversaw the energy-efficient conversion into an event location in 2017.
Openness, honesty, trust, empathy, authenticity and appreciation form the basis of our corporate behaviour. The ‘fairpflichtet’ sustainability code accompanies us as a voluntary commitment to corporate responsibility for sustainability in the organisation and implementation of ecologically and economically successful events.
Energy from green electricity
Electricity, water and district heating are supplied to the Grand Hall by local utility companies. All measured and consumption values are continuously monitored and digitally recorded in order to quickly and efficiently recognise and exploit potential savings. Energy consumption can be recorded in real time for each event and analysed on a consumption-specific basis.
Intelligently controlled, digital load management
District heating connection
Energy-efficient LED light sources
Water-saving sanitary facilities.
Office supplies, drinking water and all consumables come from regular, regional partners. This protects the environment, reduces the volume of traffic and promotes the regional economy.
Minimisation of fossil fuel consumption during transport and distribution by regional partners
Pomotion of the regional economy through local networks
Equality and transparency in remuneration through equal pay - guaranteed equal pay for equal work.
Clear trend towards smaller corporate events
As a result of the pandemic, the number of event organisers in Germany has fallen significantly. Those that are still on the market are struggling with disrupted supply chains and the resulting shortage of resources. However, Koperek also sees an opportunity here: event services need to be even more focussed on the target group. Overall, the trend is clearly towards smaller events with up to 1,000 people on site and an unlimited number of additional virtual participants. One advantage of the Grand Hall is its flexibility in terms of event sizes. In addition, the location with its industrial charm offers the opportunity to incorporate the outdoor area. «An added value that more and more companies are recognising», says Tom Koperek.
Innovative building technology
The multifunctional event location in the heart of the Ruhr region fulfils all the requirements of a state-of-the-art event hall. Energy-efficient and resource-saving aspects were already taken into account during the planning phase of the refurbishment:
· Networked computer-controlled heating and ventilation system with heat recovery
· Modern building management system (BMS) control system Fully automatic darkening
system and energy-efficient LED lighting as well as
· Insulating glass windows and heat-reducing window films
· Digital conference technology and recyclable furniture
· Water flow limiters in the sanitary facilities
· Accessibility in all areas.
Regional catering partners
The food is selected and prepared in regional production facilities according to ecological criteria and the highest hygiene standards.
· Seasonal dishes from controlled organic and regional cultivation
· Efficient and short transport routes
· Effective ‘just in time’ supply chains
· Consistent use of reusable items.
TAKE OUTS
In a league of its own
The room concept of the location is extremely flexible, different areas can be booked in variable sizes and freely combined with each other depending on the type of event. All levels are accessible via passenger lifts. In addition, the Grand Hall has central goods lifts - a lorry trailer can be completely unloaded within 40 minutes.
Multiple award winner
The Grand Hall ZOLLVEREIN® combines living industrial culture and symmetrical, functional Bauhaus architecture to create one of the top addresses for live communication - in the Ruhr region and far beyond. The event hall was also recognised for this by the editors of the BlachReport, one of the best-known formats in the event industry: The Grand Hall took first place in the 2023 location ranking.
FACTS AND FIGURES
General
· Modern facilities for conferences, congresses, events and trade fairs
· Space for up to 2500 people
· A total of 4,000 square metres of event space
· Three barrier-free levels.
·
Conversion
· Duration: 4 years
· Dismantling of: 1800 tonnes of steel
· Costs: 10 million euros
Surfaces
Grand Hall
Usable area: approx. 1,800 m2 Floor area: approx. 2,000 m2 Capacity: up to 2,500 people
Foyer
Floor space: 360 m2 Floor space: 450 m2 Capacity: up to 350 people
Club
Floor space: 460 m2 Floor space: 880 m2 Capacity: up to 450 people
Schalthaus 1 and 2 and Schalthaus Foyer Total floor space: 545 m2
Floor space: 635 m2
Capacity: on request
Kommentarer