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In 2000 the Berlin based high tech company SPM began searching for a location for its head office. The company wanted a location that looked completely different from conventional office buildings but that also met extremely high functional and aesthetic standards.
 Several feasibility studies later, it became abundantly clear that while there was a large selection of conventional investor solutions for a 500 workstation office space in the center of Berlin, none of them met SPM’s functional and aesthetic requirements. The company then decided to look around for something completely different.
In late 2000 Paul Kahlfeldt introduced Vattenfall’s Achim Grube to the party that later became the investor in the site. The ensuing negotiations catalyzed an evaluation process indicating that the Mauerstraße location (ewerk) was the best investment option. A feasibility study was then carried out, and in so doing care was taken to ensure (in close cooperation with the Dr. Kahlfeldt’s architecture firm) that the numerous usage restrictions resulting from the previous uses of the building, the effects of World War II on the building, as well as permit related requirements could be reduced to a minimum and that the project would in fact be feasible.
The architecture firm of Hoyer, Schindele, Hirschmüller and Partner then drew up plans and realized the requisite design work for the project.
Before construction got underway, a number of high class events were held at the venue, including the Art Director Club awards ceremony. In addition, Levis presented its new engineering product line, which featured an Outcast concert, and NoUfos sponsored the (to date) last Love Parade event at ewerk.
In December 2003, in its capacity as the parent company of the investment company, SPM was sold to SAP. As a result of the acquisition process, SPM’s investment activities were spun off so that the ewerk project could continue without interruption and the functional components of the project could be realized independently of SAP.
In late 2002, following a period that was marked by excellent cooperation with city officials, the initial construction phase began, involving installation of a rectifier for subway lines 2 and 6 under Friedrichstraße. The project’s general contractor MBN completed construction work in late 2003.
In early 2004 a general contractor’s agreement was concluded with the Oevermann company for rebuilding ewerk’s office space, and the work was completed in mid 2005. Soon thereafter SAP moved into the new office space, whereupon ewerk sent out invitations for the reopening celebration.
A third phase of ewerk’s revitalization that was initiated in mid 2005 involved modernization of the apartment buildings on Mauerstraße, which is slated for completion by mid 2006.
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