Koelnmesse plans to upgrade its inner-city campus and expand its exhibition schedule by 2030. The investment program, “Koelnmesse 3.0”, laid the foundation for this future expansion and enhancement of the grounds. As a result, the following key tasks were defined: the replacement of Exhibition Hall 1 (approximately 10,000 m² of exhibition space), a new multifunctional event hall for up to 6,200 participants, and a new East-West terminal as the central axis, including new entrance gates. JSWD won the multi-phase competition in 2016. After the completion of Hall 1 in 2020, Confex – a portmanteau of conference and exhibition center – opened in 2024.

JSWD combined the various uses of the building into a single cuboidal structure with a stately yet welcoming appearance. The building has a different character when viewed from different angles, originating from the strictly vertical segmentation of the existing halls. The rhythmic vertical structure of the facade allows Confex to blend harmoniously into the ensemble of the existing trade fair buildings. At the same time, it forms the structural end point of the exhibition grounds towards the Rheinpark to the west.

While the front of the building, facing both Cologne and MesseCity, is grand in scale, the interior appears more compact. Guests coming from the train station are led up to the height of Confex Plaza by a wide staircase. With 5,600 m² of open-air space, the plaza allows events to generate visibility and welcome visitors before they even walk through the doors. The view of the interior is staggered. As an open reception hall, the 27-meter-high arcade makes an inviting gesture. Depending on one’s perspective, the 11 extremely slender pillars appear to form a curtain. Under the roof of the arcade, a translucent, story-high LED screen runs the entire width of the building, adding moving images, messages, colors, and light to the space. The white facade is cut into horizontal thirds, matching the number of stories inside the building; narrow openings, windows, or ventilation are installed at the levels defined by the pilaster strips and correspond to the different conference areas.

Confex has a highly functional interior, thus allowing for a wide range of formats for trade fairs, congresses, exhibitions, and events. This is supported by the main hall, which can be divided into smaller spaces, 22 conference rooms of various sizes, and a flexible connection to other exhibition halls. The floor-to-ceiling windows on the southern facade offer fascinating views of Cologne Cathedral and the Rhine. From the light-filled foyer, the conference rooms on both upper floors can be reached by a freestanding escalator, as well as via several elevators. Confex can also be accessed from what is referred to as the “Westkopf”, enabling multiple independent events to be held simultaneously. Thanks to mobile partition walls, the central hall can be divided into two or three separate event areas.

An application for Platinum certification of the project by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) has already been submitted. Environmental measures include 500 solar panels installed on the roof that generate energy for the sustainable operation of the building.

Confex opened to the public just in time for Koelnmesse’s 100th anniversary. All that remains now is the final component of the master plan, which is the construction of the new East-West terminal as a central axis to connect the buildings.