Posted on May 14, 2025
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has completed the architectural competition for its new German headquarters in Hamburg’s HafenCity. Frankfurt-based Wandel Lorch Götze Wach (WLGW) won the competition with an innovative design that was characterised by openness, lightness and sustainable building principles.
Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economic Affairs and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, underlined the significance of the project: “MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has a long-term commitment to the Port of Hamburg – the new German headquarters in HafenCity is a clear sign of this. The new headquarters strengthens Hamburg’s position as a leading German shipping location and the network of the maritime industry here. We look forward to the future cooperation and the additional jobs that will be created.
Franz-Josef Höing, Chief Planning Director of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, praised the building’s architectural integration: HafenCity is gaining a beautiful, elegant building. The building fits perfectly into the urban context, contours the water’s edge and forms a wonderful vantage point opposite the Deichtorhallen. It is an architecture that rewards a second look: precise, delicate and with a restaurant that appeals to the city.
Florian Götze of Wandel Lorch Götze Wach was delighted with the success: We’re already familiar with HafenCity from various construction projects, such as the Ecumenical Forum on Shanghaiallee and the building on Am Lohsepark, which was originally planned as a documentation centre for the “denk.mal Hannoverscher Bahnhof” and is now used for restaurants and offices. We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the development of the neighbourhood with another building.
Nils Kahn, Managing Director of MSC Germany, emphasised the strategic importance of the project: “Our new German headquarters will be a visible sign that we are continuing to significantly expand our commitment to Hamburg. The architecture fits perfectly into our company’s DNA: the combination of architecture and water symbolises our core business, international shipping. The modern and sustainable building creates an inspiring and healthy working environment for around 700 employees. In addition, our showroom invites all interested parties to learn more about MSC, its history and its mission. We would like to thank Wandel Lorch Götze Wach for their compelling design, on the basis of which we are moving rapidly towards the start of construction.
Dr Andreas Kleinau, managing director of HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, emphasised the importance of the architectural competition: ‘With this efficiently conducted architectural competition, MSC has impressively underlined how seriously it takes its role as a developer and how committed it is to joining the ranks of major publishing houses, retailers and maritime companies in the immediate vicinity. The design by Wandel Lorch Götze Wach also represents the latest generation of innovative, sustainable buildings. It will be designed in accordance with the criteria of the DGNB Special Award for Environmental Labelling. We are delighted to have taken this successful step together.
Sustainable construction and energy supply
The planned office building is located in the Am Lohsepark district of HafenCity, directly at Brooktorhafen, and will be partially built into the harbour basin. Construction is scheduled to start in 2026. The light-coloured façade serves as solar protection and clearly structures the generous window fronts. Inside, modular workstations allow the office space to be easily adapted to the needs of the users. Plant areas and quiet zones promote productivity, while telephone booths, informal workstations and concentration zones with acoustic partitions are provided. Public areas such as a showroom and restaurant are planned for the ground floor.
The proposed design follows a holistic sustainability and energy concept that aims to meet the criteria of the DGNB Special Award for Environmental Labelling. The building consists of a solid base using recycled concrete and reclaimed clinker. A reversible heat pump is used for heating and cooling. Waste heat from the building is reused. Solar panels are also used.
Strategic importance and competition
MSC’s current branch in Hamburg has been located in the Speicherstadt district since 2022. The construction of the new German headquarters underlines the strategic importance of the Port of Hamburg for MSC. At the end of 2023, MSC, together with the City of Hamburg, secured over 92 per cent of the shares in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG. The City of Hamburg and MSC intend to work together to drive forward the strategic development of HHLA and the entire Port of Hamburg.
Wandel Lorch Götze Wach GmbH beat off competition from five other firms in a Europe-wide architectural competition. According to the jury, chaired by Prof. Jörg Aldinger, the design is ‘a striking and robust contribution that integrates itself as an urban building block into the development of the quarter and promises it a good starting and finishing point at the water’s edge’. Wandel Lorch Götze Wach GmbH shared first place with E2A / Piet Eckert and Wim Eckert / Architects. Third place went to gmp.
Public exhibition
The designs from the architectural competition will be on display from 6 to 28 May 2025 at the HafenCity InfoCenter Kesselhaus, Am Sandtorkai 30, 20457 Hamburg. The exhibition is open Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00 and on weekends from 11.00 to 17.00. Admission is free.
For further information please visit: www.msc.com
MSC Germany SA & Co. KG
Am Sandtorkai 31
20457 Hamburg
Germany
+49 40 30295 0
