The Congress Hall was to be a central component of the National Socialists' construction programme in Nuremberg. Designed by Nuremberg architect Ludwig Ruff, the building is typical of the monumental architecture of the Third Reich: the façade is inspired by the Colosseum. The foundation stone for the building was laid in 1935. If the Congress Hall had been completed, it would have reached a height of 70 metres. Due to the war, construction was halted in 1939. The interior of the hall, the inner courtyard, the upper floors and the entire interior decoration remained unfinished. Only the exterior façade of solid granite was given its final form. After the Second World War, the building was used for various purposes. In 1963, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra moved into the south wing, and in 2001, the Documentation Centre moved into the north wing.
The Congress Hall will be transformed into a cultural centre in the coming years. Creative spaces for artists of all genres will be created, as well as rehearsal and presentation rooms. The heart of the new cultural centre will be the new venue for the Nuremberg State Theatre in the inner courtyard of the Congress Hall. The current opera house in the city centre is in need of renovation. The ‘creative spaces’ and the venue for musical theatre and dance are intended to create a place of encounter and creative exchange together with the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. A diverse programme of events will welcome audiences to the Congress Hall in the 2028/29 season.
