New life for Terminal 5: Schönefeld's SXF 2.0 district is being created!

New life for Terminal 5: Schönefeld's SXF 2.0 district is being created!

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is presenting exciting plans for the future of the former Terminal 5 at the Schönefeld location. The area is to be converted into a new commercial area under the project name “Quartier SXF 2.0”. The initiative aims to give companies direct airside access to the airport, which is a real location advantage.
How Airliners reports, the project is being driven forward by the airport operating company (FBB), which is currently looking for investors and project developers to design the commercial area. FBB's Corporate Real Estate Development team will work closely with partners to fully exploit the site's potential.

The former Terminal 5, which was in operation until the main terminal at BER opened in 2020, has been empty since then and now offers opportunities for reuse. The old airport, which was originally a military airfield, has had an eventful history for a long time, including important state visits and international flights.
The location itself is particularly exciting: the connection to the A113 and A117 motorways as well as the walking distance to the Schönefeld S-Bahn station make it attractive for companies. FBB is planning the development on an area of ​​37 hectares around Terminal 5.

A new urban district is being created

The municipality of Schönefeld has the vision of transforming the area around Terminal 5 into a new urban district RBB24 determines. Mayor Christian Hentschel emphasizes the desire for a large congress center near the airport. In addition, cultural facilities, restaurants, a cinema and even a bowling alley are planned.
The planning leaves room for innovative approaches, as three architectural offices work on ideas for the development without receiving specific specifications. The community also wants to position itself as a location for biotech companies and modern production lines. These ambitions show that Schönefeld wants to establish itself as more than just an airport community.

This strategic move is supported by a 2022 strategy paper highlighting the community's challenges. These include, among other things, the need for better planning and public transport.
Schönefeld sees itself on a growing “boom corridor” with other cities such as Wildau and Königs Wusterhausen. Nevertheless, the decision about the future use of the site rests heavily with the airport company, which therefore has control over the development.

Sustainability and digitalization for the future

The master plan for BER also takes aspects of sustainability and digitalization into account and offers clear impulses for the economic and structural development of the region. As on the company's website Berlin Airport described, the further development of the location is characterized by five guiding ideas: from the creation of a central, flexible infrastructure to the development of an airport city to the creation of networked mobility.

The FBB is ambitious and wants to raise the Brandenburg region to a new economic level through these new projects. The potential is great, and the developments at Terminal 5 could make not only Schönefeld, but also the entire region, great again.