FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ARRI relocates headquarters to Munich’s Parkstadt Schwabing
- Ultra-modern production and office building with optimal working conditions for employees
- With this new building, the globally active film technology company commits to Munich as a production and innovation location
- Visit from Judith Gerlach, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs, commemorates opening
Munich, October 7, 2020 – Since its establishment in 1917, ARRI’s historical location in Munich's Tuerkenstrasse has been the main hub of activity for the business. Now, the globally active film technology company is relocating its headquarters and the entire Camera Systems division to Munich’s Parkstadt Schwabing. On October 6, 2020, Judith Gerlach, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs and also responsible for the state’s film industry, commemorated the opening with a visit to the new building. She was welcomed by ARRI Executive Board members Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser and Markus Zeiler, the two Managing Directors of ARRI Cine Technik Stephan Schenk and Walter Trauninger, as well as by the members of the Supervisory Board and representatives of the owner family Dr. Carolin Stahl and Christoph Stahl.
ARRIAL is the new production and office building, offering over 600 workspaces, that has been precisely tailored to meet ARRI’s future needs. Located at Herbert Bayer Strasse 10, in the direct vicinity of many other global players, the name ARRIAL was born out of an internal employee competition. Inspired by the architecture of American film studios, the building consists of two spacious, interconnected building blocks. “Some visitors recognize analog film strips from earlier times or the carbon housings of our digital ARRI cameras in the dynamic-looking, almost perforated, black brick facade,” comments Managing Director Walter Trauninger who is responsible, along with Stephan Schenk, for the Camera Systems business unit.
The State Minister for Digital Affairs Judith Gerlach explains: “The history of ARRI is a true Bavarian success story—high tech from our state has become indispensable to the film industry worldwide. I am pleased about this, not only as Minister for Film, but also as Minister for Digital. With the new company headquarters in Munich, ARRI is setting the course for the future. I wish you good luck and success in your new home!”
“ARRIAL, for the first time in our company’s history, has united all the specialist areas within the Camera Systems unit—from development and production to marketing and service—as well as all central functions under one roof, with the shortest possible distances between them,” emphasizes Managing Director Stephan Schenk.
Executive Board member Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser elaborates: “With this move, we are setting an important course for the future of ARRI. At ARRIAL, we offer our employees optimal conditions for successful work to ensure that ARRI remains innovative well into the future.”
Optimized processes, shorter distances, better communication: To an even greater degree than ARRI’s former headquarters on Tuerkenstrasse, ARRIAL was envisioned to become a place of encounter. The structure of the building promotes cross-team cooperation and open exchange. For the new company headquarters, an innovative open-space office concept suitable for ARRI was developed to meet the requirements of tomorrow’s workplace environment. Colleagues have access to larger offices and numerous retreat rooms for focused, individual work or internal meetings, while customers and other external parties have access to versatile meeting rooms.
Many rooms were named after groundbreaking feature films that were captured with ARRI cameras and where the company played a special role; these include “Das Boot,” “Skyfall,” and “Easy Rider.” Invited visitors will be able to learn more about these pictures and much more in the soon to open ARRI Museum. There on display will be a few of the 19 Scientific and Technical Awards ARRI has received from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of its innovative contributions to the film industry. In the neighboring ARRI Studio, equipped with state-of-the-art camera and lighting technology from ARRI, virtual All-Hands meetings are produced along with live webinars and other moving-image productions.
From the building’s inception, great importance was attached to a pleasant working environment: Beautiful, high ceilings in industrial design create a modern ambience. Most of the workplaces are located near large, wood-clad windows. Sound-absorbing floors ensure less ambient noise. Continuous fresh air circulates in the fully air-conditioned building that also offers external and internal sun protection. Seven passenger elevators enable barrier-free working while attractive, light-flooded staircases connect all floors. In the stylish cafeteria complete with sun terrace and at a separate kiosk, caterer Leonardi serves a variety of fresh dishes as well as snacks and drinks every day. A landscaped inner courtyard invites the employees and guests to take a relaxing break.
Two underground parking levels offer colleagues sufficient parking space. Some of them have been equipped with e-charging stations. In addition, there is ample bicycle parking space for employees. Charging facilities for e-bikes have also been integrated. Furthermore, the building is well connected to public transportation.
Even as a technical structure, ARRIAL is on the cutting edge and not only in terms of its workplace equipment or modern facilities. Solar panels on the roof allow ARRI to produce its own electricity while feeding any surplus energy back into the network.
ARRIAL was built on behalf of ARRI according to plans by the architectural office Hoffmann & Amtsberg and project manager Michaela Neugebauer. “ARRI did not want a normal commercial building, but a house that would provide space for several hundred individualists, creative engineers, and free-thinking film enthusiasts,” said architect Achim Hoffmann at the cornerstone laying ceremony. He promised “an extraordinary house for an extraordinary company”—and he kept his word.
Numerous companies were involved in the construction. A total of 7,700 square meters (over 82,882 ft.) were built on the approximately 10,600 square meter (over 114,097 ft). site. This resulted in 17,500 square meters (over 188,368 ft.) of net-floor space for offices and an additional 15,000 square meters (over 161,458 ft.) of storage, usable space, and parking.
“With around 1,400 employees and numerous branches worldwide, ARRI is truly a global player,” explains Executive Board member Markus Zeiler. “Still ARRI remains a Munich-based company with a long tradition. With this new building, ARRI is committing itself to Munich as a production and innovation location in the future.”
The company’s founding location in Munich’s Tuerkenstrasse is still owned by ARRI. The ARRI Media division, responsible for postproduction, and the ASTOR Film Lounge at ARRI with three movie theaters, which was newly opened after the renovation, will remain on the premises, as will other private and commercial tenants, including the medical technology company Munich Surgical Imaging, the Munich City Museum, the Muenchner Verlagsgruppe (Munich Publishing Group), parts of the Tropical Institute, and film production companies.
ARRIAL was already operational at the end of 2019, but the grand opening, originally planned for May 2020, had to be cancelled due to the corona pandemic.
Images:
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The new company headquarters in Munich, precisely tailored to meet ARRI’s future needs
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Judith Gerlach (center), Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs, during her visit to commemorate the opening of the new headquarters. She was welcomed (from l. to r.) by Markus Zeiler, Walter Trauninger, Dr. Carolin Stahl, Christoph Stahl, Stephan Schenk, and Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser (all ARRI)
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The name ARRIAL, used for this production and office building, was born out of an internal employee competition
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Judith Gerlach (center), Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs, in the ARRI Studio with (from l. to r.) Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser, Dr. Carolin Stahl, Walter Trauninger, Christoph Stahl, Stephan Schenk, and Markus Zeiler (all ARRI)
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Oscar-winning cinematographers, including Roger Deakins (“1917”), trust in technology from ARRI. Cameras, such as the ALEXA Mini LF, are now produced in Munich’s ARRIAL
About ARRI:
“Inspiring images. Since 1917.” ARRI is a global company within the motion picture media industry, employing around 1,400 staff worldwide. Named after its founders August Arnold and Robert Richter, ARRI was established in Munich, Germany, where the headquarters is still located today. Other subsidiaries are in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
The ARRI Group consists of the business units Camera Systems, Lighting, Media, and Rental, all dedicated to connecting art and future technologies for moving images. ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film and broadcast industry, with a worldwide distribution and service network. It is also an integrated media service provider in the fields of film post- and coproduction, international sales, as well as equipment rental, and supplying camera, lighting, and grip packages to professional productions. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized ARRI’s engineers and their contributions to the industry with 19 Scientific and Technical Awards.
For locations and more information, please visit www.arri.com.