The traditional factory site of the former Gail company in Giessen is being developed into a modern location for urban production and strategic knowledge economy. This comprehensive brownfield development, acquired in 2024 by Giessen entrepreneur Christiane Roth, is being carried out in cooperation with Mykorrhiza Real Estate (MY-RE). The project aims to establish a new hub for technology- and research-oriented companies on a 16-hectare site.
The location of the former Gail site benefits from established infrastructure. Its immediate proximity to Justus Liebig University, Giessen and Marburg University Hospital, and the Fraunhofer Institute creates an environment that fosters knowledge transfer and the development of new technologies. These conditions generate potential for collaborations in areas such as MedTech, biotechnology, life sciences, research and development, and other future technologies. It appeals to companies and investors seeking a location with scientific infrastructure, qualified specialists, and long-term development opportunities.
Concept and Utilisation
The 16-hectare site will become a new component of Giessen's technology and innovation hub. A dynamic technology and commercial campus is planned, with a projected gross floor area of approximately 125,600 square metres. This makes GAIL AREAL Giessen one of the largest contiguous commercial development areas in the Rhine-Main region and Hesse. Part of the industrial heritage stock will be revitalised and integrated into the new utilisation concept to preserve the site's identity.
The concept follows the guiding principles of the “productive city” and “Industry 5.0,” with the area deliberately designed to be agile and flexible. It is intended to provide space for productive companies, research, and development, while also connecting work, science, creativity, and leisure. An integrated start-up incubator serves as a central building block for networking local stakeholders. Julian Keetman, Managing Partner at MY-RE, explained that the goal is an agile, flexibly designed area that, in close coordination with the City of Giessen, can accommodate diverse users ranging from production and science to leisure and the creative industries.
History and Sustainability
GAIL AREAL looks back on a long industrial history. Originally founded in 1812 as a cigar factory, the “Gail’sche Steam Brickworks and Clay Goods Factory” developed from 1891. Until production ceased in 2002, ceramic products for various sectors, including industry, construction, facades, swimming pools, and aerospace, were manufactured on the site. This history is integrated into the overall ESG concept, which encompasses sustainability and the preservation of heritage. In addition to features such as photovoltaic systems, energy-efficient power supply, retention areas, and green spaces, the reuse of existing tiles from previous production will be realised in the new construction.
Active placemaking is already being implemented through various curated usage and interim concepts. These include the “GAIL Nightmarket,” various cultural events, and its use as a film set. These measures contribute to the gradual activation of the site and create public urban space. The transport links on Erdkrauter Weg in Giessen are advantageous, as the university, university hospital, railway station, and city centre are all in the immediate vicinity. A train stop directly in front of the site and good connections to the motorways A485, A45, and A5 are further location benefits.
