Central building of the BMW Leipzig plant wins German Architecture Award 2005. Architect Zaha Hadid to be presented with the award at the BMW plant on December 16

Leipzig. This year's German Architecture Award goes to the central
building of the new BMW Leipzig plant. The building was designed by
architect Zaha Hadid (London). The German Architecture Award is worth
25,000 Euros and is conferred every two years by the E.ON Ruhrgas AG
under the auspices of the German Association of Architects. The
architect will be presented with the award at the BMW Leipzig plant on
16 December 2005. During the award, Zaha Hadid will deliver a
ceremonial speech. The official greeting and the welcoming speech will
be held by Dr. Burckhard Bergmann, Chief Executive of E.ON Ruhrgas AG,
Dr. Norbert Reithofer, head of production at BMW, Wolfgang Tiefensee,
Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Prof.
Dr. Geog Milbradt, Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony,
Prof. Arno Sighard Schmid, President of the German Association of
Architects and Peter Claussen, Managing Director of the BMW Leipzig
plant. The award-winning works will be presented by Prof. Dr. Ing.
Werner Durth, who will preside over the jury. Prior to the award
ceremony at 2 p.m. (admission only if advance notice is given) a press
conference will be held at the central building of the BMW Leipzig
plant commencing at 1 p.m. Media representatives are requested to
accredit themselves beforehand at the BMW Leipzig plant (see below for
person to contact) or with the following person: Helmut Roloff, E.ON
Ruhrgas AG, phone 0201 184-3952. The BMW Leipzig plant was officially
opened on 13 May 2005, series production of the 3 Series saloon having
already commenced at Leipzig on 1 March. Around 400 automobiles are
currently produced there every day. On the factory premises BMW as well
as its suppliers and associates provide jobs for more than 4,000
employees. Medium-term forecasts show that this figure will increase to
around 5,500, based on a production capacity of 650 vehicles per day.
The central building at the BMW Leipzig plant is in keeping with the
tradition of other outstanding BMW architectural highlights. These
include the company headquarters in Munich, the so-called "four
cylinder" building designed by architect Karl Schwanzer (opened in
1973), the Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) in Munich featuring the
recently constructed project building, and "BMW Welt", an
innovative experience and delivery centre designed by the Viennese
architects COOP HIMMELB(L)AU and currently still under construction.
Completion is expected for the winter of 2006/2007. Should you have
any enquiries, please contact: Press Service and Public Relations
Michael Janßen, Head of Press Service and Public Relations BMW
Leipzig Plant Telephone: +49 341 445-38000 Telefax: +49 341 445-39888
Thomas Girst, Head of BMW Group Cultural Communications Telefon: +49 89
382-24753 Telefax: +49 89 382-28017 Internet: www.bmw-werk-leipzig.de
Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com