Ems-Quartier Meppen celebrates topping-out milestone
Ems-Quartier Meppen celebrates topping-out milestone
The transformation of the former shopping centre into a future-focused mixed-use destination reaches an important stage of construction.
Ems-Quartier Meppen, Germany, reached an important milestone in its transformation following the project's topping-out ceremony on the 2nd of September 2026.
The ceremony brought together around 100 representatives from the client, construction and design teams, alongside local stakeholders, to celebrate the progress made on site. Chapman Taylor Director Hendrik Wirths attended on behalf of the practice, joining representatives of the Lindhorst Group, general contractor MBN and the City of Meppen.
Chapman Taylor is acting as architect and general planner for the ambitious regeneration project, which is transforming the former My MEP shopping centre on Bahnhofstraße into a vibrant mixed-use quarter. Rather than replacing the existing building, the project reimagines and adapts the structure to create a more diverse, sustainable and resilient destination for Meppen.
The new Ems-Quartier will bring together a broad mix of uses, including retail and food & beverage alongside health and fitness facilities, hotel accommodation and the Emsland Music School. Together, these uses are intended to create an active destination which complements Meppen's existing city centre and responds to the changing needs of the local community.
Sustainability is central to the transformation. By working extensively with the existing building fabric, the project demonstrates how established retail assets can be adapted for new uses rather than replaced. The development is also targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, with measures including a rooftop photovoltaic system and strategies to optimise operational costs.
With the roof structure now completed, the topping-out ceremony marks a significant moment in the construction programme and makes the scale of the transformation increasingly visible. Completion of Ems-Quartier Meppen is currently targeted for summer 2027.
Some photography: @Matthias Brüning