At its meeting on 24 September 2026, the council of the state capital Düsseldorf resolved to refurbish the entire facade of the Tonhalle at Ehrenhof. The funding allocated for the measure was approved. The resolution earmarks a budget of approximately EUR 34.9 million for the extensive works on the listed building. The already initiated refurbishment of the west facade is not included in this new resolution.
Miriam Koch, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Integration, and Health, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating that the refurbishment represents a sustainable investment in the preservation of one of the city's most distinctive cultural buildings. She highlighted that the Tonhalle is both an outstanding concert venue and a significant architectural monument. It is therefore essential to secure the historic building fabric in the long term while simultaneously ensuring the necessary conditions for reliable ongoing operations.
Scope of Refurbishment Works and Causes
Completed in 1926, the building shows moisture damage in various places. This was attributed to faulty sealing on facade elements and the roof terrace, exacerbated by damage to the drainage structure. Expert reports and structural openings by specialist engineers concretised the identified need for refurbishment. The planned measures include the refurbishment of approximately 3,650 square metres of brick facade. Furthermore, the renewal of the sealing of around 3,500 square metres of roof terrace and the damaged joints and coverings on the clinker facade is planned. The existing windows will be replaced with modern window elements.
Additional works include the refurbishment of further roof areas and parts of the rainwater drainage system. The exterior lighting will be upgraded to modern LED technology. The refurbishment measures will also contribute to the building's energy efficiency. Optimised thermal insulation for the window systems and in the roof terrace area is expected to enable future energy savings. Materials such as natural stone, brick masonry, and brick paving will be reused if they remain intact during dismantling. The refurbishment measures will be closely coordinated with the Institute for Monument Protection and Heritage Conservation. Federal funding is intended to be applied for specific parts of the energy refurbishment.
Timeline and Operational Procedure
Construction is projected to commence in the second quarter of 2027. According to current planning, the construction period will be 38 months, aiming for completion in the second quarter of 2030. A central requirement is that the Tonhalle's operations can be maintained without interruption throughout the entire construction period. Construction procedures will be closely coordinated with Tonhalle Düsseldorf gGmbH and the event management for this purpose, to ensure continuous use of the cultural building.
