Since its establishment in 1917, ARRI’s historical location in Munich’s Tuerkenstrasse has been the main hub of activity for the business. Now, the globally-active film and digital technology company is relocating its headquarters, and the entire camera systems division, to spacious, ultra-modern new premises in Munich’s Parkstadt Schwabing.
On October 6, 2020, Judith Gerlach, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs, also responsible for the state’s film industry, commemorated the opening with a visit to the new building. She was welcomed by ARRI executive board members Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser and Markus Zeiler, the two managing directors of ARRI Cine Technik Stephan Schenk and Walter Trauninger, as well as by the members of the supervisory board and representatives of the owner family Dr. Carolin Stahl and Christoph Stahl.
Judith Gerlach (center), Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs, in the ARRI Studio with (from l. to r.) Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser, Dr. Carolin Stahl, Walter Trauninger, Christoph Stahl, Stephan Schenk, and Markus Zeiler (all ARRI)
Known as ARRIAL, the new production and office building offers over 600 workspaces, precisely tailored to meet ARRI’s future needs. Located at Herbert Bayer Strasse 10, in the direct vicinity of many other multi-national companies, the name ARRIAL was born out of an internal employee competition.
Inspired by the architecture of American film studios, the building consists of two spacious, interconnected building blocks.
Dr. Michael Neuhaeuser commented, “With this move, we are setting an important course for the future of ARRI. At ARRIAL, we offer our employees optimal conditions for successful work to ensure that ARRI remains innovative well into the future.”
“ARRIAL, for the first time in our company’s history, has united all the specialist areas within the camera systems unit — from development and production to marketing and service — as well as all central functions under one roof, with the shortest possible distances between them,” emphasised Schenk.
Minister Gerlach added, ”The history of ARRI is a true Bavarian success story – high-tech from our state has become indispensable to the film industry worldwide. I am pleased about this, not only as Minister for Film, but also as Minister for Digital. With the new company headquarters in Munich, ARRI is setting the course for the future. I wish you good luck and success in your new home!”
The name ARRIAL, used for this production and office building, was born out of an internal employee competition
ARRIAL has been envisioned as a place of encounter. The structure of the building promotes cross-team cooperation and open exchange. For the new company headquarters, an open-space office concept suitable for ARRI was developed to meet the requirements of the workplace environment in the future. Colleagues have access to larger offices and numerous retreat rooms for focused, individual work or internal meetings, whilst customers and other external parties have access to versatile meeting rooms.
Many rooms have been named after groundbreaking feature films that were captured with ARRI cameras and where the company played a special role; these include Das Boot, Skyfall, and Easy Rider. Visitors will be able to learn more about these motion pictures and in the soon to open ARRI Museum. On display will also be a few of the 19 Scientific and Technical Awards ARRI has received from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of its innovative contributions to the film industry.
Oscar-winning cinematographers, including Roger Deakins (“1917”), trust in technology from ARRI. Cameras, such as the ALEXA Mini LF, are now produced in Munich’s ARRIAL
In the neighbouring ARRI Studio, equipped with state-of-the-art camera and lighting technology from ARRI, virtual All-Hands meetings are produced along with live webinars and other moving-image productions.
“With around 1,400 employees and numerous branches worldwide, ARRI is truly a global player,” said executive board member Markus Zeiler. “Still ARRI remains a Munich-based company with a long tradition. With this new building, ARRI is committing itself to Munich as a production and innovation location in the future.”
The company’s founding location in Munich’s Tuerkenstrasse is still owned by ARRI. The ARRI Media division, responsible for postproduction, and the ASTOR Film Lounge at ARRI with three movie theatres, which was newly opened after the renovation, will remain on the premises, as will other private and commercial tenants, including the medical technology company Munich Surgical Imaging, the Munich City Museum, the Muenchner Verlagsgruppe (Munich Publishing Group), parts of the Tropical Institute, and film production companies.
