Construction Begins on HENN-Designed German Language Forum in Mannheim

On March 18, 2026, a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony in Mannheim officially launched construction of the Forum Deutsche Sprache, a museum and science center dedicated to the German language. Designed by architecture firm HENN, whose winning proposal was selected in a 2021 competition, the building is scheduled for completion in 2028. The project is funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation and will serve as the home for the Leibniz Institute for the German Language, functioning as both an interactive research center and public exhibition space. Its distinctive layered facade, featuring a transparent ETFE film outer shell protecting underlying wooden elements, symbolizes linguistic complexity, according to HENN partner Fredrik Werner. The structure aims to create a floating public forum bridging interior and exterior spaces, specifically connecting the lobby with the Meßplatz square to foster community interaction. Mannheim mayor Christian Specht emphasized the forum's role as a hub for democratic exchange and social diversity at the city's core intersection between Neckarstadt and downtown. Scientific director Prof. Dr. Henning Lobin of the Leibniz Institute highlighted the urgent need for such a venue to explore language's societal impact amid rapid technological change. The forum will feature interactive presentations, debates, and ongoing research to allow visitors to experience language's omnipresence and diversity.