«Major projects are not just a job, but also a vocation and a hobby.»

Today, Monday, HRS handed over the new Festhalle to the client in Bern. It replaces the provisional exhibition hall built 72 years ago on the BERNEXPO site, which had reached the end of its life cycle.
The new Festhalle enables the hosting of cultural events, shows, sports competitions, art exhibitions, musicals, television broadcasts, or other gatherings. This versatile platform secures the city, canton, and region of Bern as a nationally significant venue for events and trade fairs. The multifunctional hall can accommodate up to 9,000 people, while the event hall has a capacity of up to 1,200. The gross floor area amounts to 22,600 m².
In an interview, Isabelle Kummer, Project Manager for Execution, talks about the work of the past two years and the significance of this Bernese institution for those involved and for the region.

Isabelle Kummer, how did you become a project manager at HRS?
I trained as a civil engineering draughtswoman and my first job was as a site manager in highway construction. I later worked for a local authority in the environment and transport department. However, I soon realized that I needed «more pressure» and wanted to go back to the construction site. I started at HRS a good 7 ½ years ago as a site manager, also on a prestigious project, sitem-insel Bern. And now I had the great fortune of being able to realize the Neue Festhalle as a Bernese.

How long have you been working on the Neue Festhalle?
I've been on this project for 26 months and was in the container for 22 months. I took over the keys to the old Festhalle, after which we were allowed to dismantle it and build the new one

What does the Neue Festhalle mean to you?
Very much! For me, my work is more than just a job - it's a vocation and it's my passion a hobby. I feel a deep connection with large-scale projects in particular, almost as if they were my «babies». In this case, I also have many memories of the old Festhalle, as do all Bernese people. Being allowed to replace this monument is a very special honor for me.

Why was the Neue Festhalle the right project for HRS?
Simply because it is very complex. «Hall» sounds like an outer shell, but inside is one of the largest and most modern event technology systems with 25-metre-long screens and height-adjustable stages. The high energy efficiency with air-heat pumps and photovoltaics is certainly another area where we were able to put our experience to good use. The same applies to the complicated logistics - the BEA 2024 took place anyway, hardly anyone could erect a building of this complexity at this fast pace. And I'm particularly proud that we didn't have a single negative headline - the fact that HRS has a lot of experience in dealing with politicians, authorities and the public certainly helped.

What was your experience of working with the client and the company?
The client is Messepark AG, in which HRS Real Estate AG has a stake, and the user is BERNEXPO AG. The HRS team is very grateful that we have been able to work together in high esteem and also resolve differences of opinion fairly. We are proud that 90 percent of the companies involved come from the region. The Festhalle is also a Bernese institution in this respect and we have secured jobs here. Only a few specialists from outside the canton and - for the VIP grandstand - from the international arena were brought in. We would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for their cooperation on an equal footing!