Parking area at the exhibition centre gets a new look

Where top-class German rappers were guests a moment ago and ten thousand mostly young spectators celebrated, the excavators are now rolling. On 26 May, construction work began at Messe Karlsruhe to upgrade car park 3 into a multifunctional area. This construction measure is connected with the contractually agreed dismantling of the old runway, which dates back to the time when the trade fair was built 20 years ago. According to the current status, the construction work will be completed by May 2024. The area to be upgraded measures a total of about 80,000 square metres. After the conversion, a multi-faceted, year-round use will be possible. For example, the utilisation concept provides for trade fairs such as RecyclingAktiv I TiefbauLive or an extended outdoor area presentation at NUFAM, whose special feature is the demonstration of machines and vehicles. The use of the area by cultural events such as the HookUp Festival or the Cultural Stage is possible in the summer months away from the trade fair business. And in the autumn and winter months the area is used as a parking area independent of the weather for events that have a great need for parking space such as art KARLSRUHE, Einstieg Beruf, offerta or TIERisch gut.

First Mayor Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz, who is also Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress GmbH, commented on the start of construction: "It is important for Messe Karlsruhe to be able to meet the necessary demand for parking spaces regardless of the weather. That is why it is essential that the P3 area, which has not been adequately paved so far, is now being upgraded. It is particularly pleasing that aspects of sustainability are being taken into account in the reconstruction. And because the area can be used multifunctionally at the same time, I am sure that there will also be positive effects on the trade fair business."

In order to be able to keep the entire area available all year round, regardless of the weather, and at the same time to develop it in an ecologically sustainable manner, the surface - with the exception of the driveways that will be created - will be capable of seepage. As a result, about 70% of the surface will be planted with vegetation and will look like a gravel lawn. In addition, there will be generous planting areas to delimit the adjacent commercial area. Recycled material will also be used in the construction project.

The technical upgrading includes supply connections for electricity, water, lighting and data cabling for event use, as well as facilities for numerous electric charging stations. There is also a basic infrastructure for mobile homes to meet the increasing demand.

District Administrator Dr. Christoph Schnaudigel, as a shareholder of the Neue Messe Karlsruhe, commented: "This is an investment in a modern infrastructure at the fair. The use of the resulting multifunctional area, for example for open-air cultural events, offers the citizens of the district an attractive leisure offer in the direct vicinity."