Having won an international competition in 1992, Professor Marg of gmp invited Ian Ritchie Architects to collaborate together with IPP Ingenieurbüro and HL-Technik in the design and realisation of the huge glass “wintergarden” -  the centrepiece of the new Leipzig International Exhibition Centre.
The glass hall is 238m long, 80m wide and 28m high at the apex, and includes four separate single storey stone faced buildings providing catering, shopping & cloakroom facilities. A central performance area has been designated. Trees are Portuguese Oaks and Magnolias.
It provides reception, relaxation and meeting areas for conference delegates. Six bridges run through and across the hall 5m above the main floor level. They are enclosed in openable curved glass linking the hall with the exhibition halls and conference centre. A further bridge links the glass hall with the other entrance pavilion across a water landscape.
Our design concept achieved a simplicity of construction with elegance and economy, allowing it to exist as a filigree shell within the central landscape of the site. The vaulted structure is composed of an external orthogonal single layer grid shell of uniform tube diameter stiffened by primary arches at 25m centres. The envelope is composed of low-iron PPG starphire® laminated glass panels 1.5m x 3.125m, suspended 0.5m below the grid shell, and includes discreet perimeter ventilation and fire escape exits at low level and ventilation/smoke extract “butterfly” openings at high level. Entrances are located in both end walls.
Environmental control is achieved in summer through the opening vents and zones of white fritting on the glass. In exceptionally hot periods de-ionised water is run from the apex over the glass vault. Underfloor heating maintains a minimum internal temperature of 8ºC at 2m above ground level when -10 ºC outside, with perimeter heating counteracting downdraughts and eliminating condensation.
The construction of the glass hall was completed in 1995 at a cost of DM60million, 20 million below budget. Leipzig Messe opened in April 1996. The new Leipzig Messe was celebrated with the issue of a German postage stamp.
German Building of the Year 1997
Galvanising Award 1997
Steel Design Award 1997
IABSE 2000 Outstanding Structure Award