Construction of the new Siemens headquarters building at Wittelsbacherplatz in Munich is virtually complete. When it opens its doors later this year, the building will provide a modern, inspiring work environment for up to 1,200 employees. Environmental friendliness and energy efficiency are playing a key role: the new building will meet the world's highest sustainability standards.

The planting of greenery is almost completed and a total of 12 trees have been planted, seven in the buildings inner courtyard and five in the existing along the adjacent Altstadtring. Following the grand opening of the new complex in the summer of 2016, the ground level – with its green inner courtyards, a cafe, a restaurant and a water feature – will be freely accessible. For Munich residents and visitors to the Bavarian capital, this passageway will provide a new pedestrian corridor connecting Munich's city center and its Museum District.

In 2010, Siemens and the city of Munich announced the launch of the construction project and organized an architectural competition. The winning design, which was developed by the Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen Architects, skillfully combines tradition with the future. The historic Ludwig Ferdinand Palais and its adjacent building are being seamless integrated into the new cutting-edge building.

The ground floor of the structure has been designed as a publicly accessible campus with green inner courtyards, outdoor seating, exhibition spaces, café and restaurant. The result will be a new urban quarter in the heart of Munich which, after its opening in the summer of 2016, will allow pedestrians to stroll directly from the city's historic center to its museum district.