The Tegel Projekt
After the Tegel international airport saw its final plane take off in 2020, the 1,235-acre site sat unoccupied, and air traffic transferred over to the newer and nearby Berlin Brandenburg Airport. But the space wouldn’t be abandoned for long.
By 2021, plans for the Tegel Projekt, an eco-friendly initiative commissioned by the state of Berlin, were underway. Construction on the ambitious project will begin later this year, with the initial phases set to be completed by 2027. Also referred to as Berlin TXL, it comprises two main components: the Urban Tech Republic and the Schumacher Quartier.
The Urban Tech Republic will serve as a hub for innovative research and production, with around 1,000 businesses, 20,000 employees, and even a college campus. Over 2,500 students are expected to live in the former airport terminal building as they study at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (Berliner Hochschule für Technik University).
The residential portion, Schumacher Quartier, is one of Berlin’s answers to the need for more affordable, sustainable housing. It will be home to 5,000 apartments and will boast shopping centers, daycares, schools, and vegetation. With an emphasis on renewable energy and environmentally friendly transportation, the car-free area will promote cycling and walking over driving. Electric buses and a tramway are planned for a future stage of development, Euronews reports.