WDR Arkaden
WDR building with an arcade-like façade by Gottfried Böhm — famous for live broadcasts of Cologne's Weiberfastnacht carnival kickoff.
As the broadcaster outgrew its existing premises, a new building became essential to accommodate the expanding WDR.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk) broadcasting building
- Location
- Cologne, Altstadt-Nord district (Innenstadt borough), on Nord-Süd-Fahrt/Breite Straße
- Dimensions
- 70 meters long, 17 meters wide, six stories
- Architect
- Gottfried Böhm
- Built
- Cornerstone laid 1994, opened 1996
- Known for
- Live broadcasts of Cologne's Weiberfastnacht carnival celebrations
The WDR doesn't actually own the building itself: it was financed through a leasing model, and only after a 20-year leasing period can the WDR purchase the building for €30.68 million.
From Planning to Construction
WDR acquired the 1,680 m² plot along the Nord-Süd-Fahrt back in 1968, committing to develop it by the end of 1980. Unresolved urban planning issues delayed the project for decades, and in 1987 the city council refused to extend the deadline further. Gottfried Böhm took over the design in 1991, with WDR's board approving the plans the following year.
Archaeological Discoveries
Before construction began, archaeologists surveyed the site from October 1993 to April 1994, uncovering significant findings about Cologne's early settlement history. Only after these excavations were completed did the cornerstone-laying ceremony take place, followed by the building's official opening in October 1996.
Architecture
Böhm designed a strongly articulated façade featuring numerous shifts in form and floor-to-ceiling glazing, with the arcade-like structure lending the building its name. The design was intended to set an architectural benchmark for the surrounding urban development. Inside, a light-filled atrium is crowned by a glass cylindrical dome.
Financing Model
Unlike earlier WDR buildings, this project was financed through an investor leasing model rather than direct ownership. A specially founded company served as lessor, with WDR leasing the building for 20 years and holding an option to purchase it afterward for €30.68 million.
Today's Use
Around 350 WDR employees work in the building, which houses the broadcaster's library, data services, press archive, and historical archive. Since 2014, it has also served as the central newsroom for WDR radio news broadcasts, alongside the WDR Lokalzeit Cologne studio.
Ground Floor and Amenities
The ground floor features a shopping-arcade-style retail level with 28,000 m² of commercial space, anchored by Deutsche Post and the WDR merchandise shop "Maus & Co.," known for its Die Maus and Käpt'n Blaubär products. An underground garage offers 160 parking spaces.
Timeline
- 1968WDR acquires most of the plot on the Nord-Süd-Fahrt
- Dezember 1987Cologne city council rejects further extension for building application
- 1989Building request by 'moderne stadt GmbH' approved
- April 1991Gottfried Böhm takes over the building planning
- August 1992WDR administrative board approves the project
- Oktober 1993 – April 1994Excavation works on the construction site
- 11. Oktober 1994Foundation stone laid for the WDR Arkaden
- 22. Oktober 1996Ceremonial opening of the building
- Februar 2014Central newsroom for WDR radio programs established
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-17
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