Panattoni is developing a new logistics and training centre in partnership with Rheinmetall Immobilien GmbH on a site at the former Kassel-Calden Airport. Construction is scheduled to begin on 1 December 2026, with completion planned for 30 June 2027.
The logistics centre, with a total floor area of around 31,100 m², serves as a hub for materials, storage, transhipment and supply. The training centre comprises around 6,900 m² of floor space and is used, amongst other things, for work on and training in technical components. Rheinmetall plans to create up to 200 new jobs at this new site in the future.
Panattoni is expanding its activities in the defence sector
With this contract, Panattoni is continuing its expansion as a property developer in the defence sector in Germany, drawing on its existing expertise and extensive market knowledge. Fred-Markus Bohne, Managing Partner at Panattoni DACH & Nordics: “The defence sector demands a high level of security, speed and technological precision when it comes to providing its infrastructure. As a long-standing market leader in Germany, we are actively shaping this development. For us, defence property is not a short-term trend, but a strategic building block for a secure, sustainable Europe. This is a responsibility that we embrace as a company and as a reliable partner.”
Time-, space- and cost-efficient management of the project in Calden
Panattoni oversees and manages the entire process of the project in Kassel-Calden, from planning for planning permission through coordination with the relevant authorities right through to completion. For on-site implementation, the company relies on a well-established network of experienced local partners. This close collaboration plays a key role in ensuring, for example, that planning permission processes are expedited despite the ambitious timetable. The company’s extensive experience in bespoke project development – particularly in dealing with stringent security requirements and through forward-thinking, proactive planning – lays the foundation for swift, on-schedule and efficient planning and execution. The construction period, including the detailed training centre, will take around seven months until completion.
Holger Gradzielski, Global Head of Real Estate at Rheinmetall: “To ensure this important project is completed swiftly despite the high demands involved, we have found the right partner in Panattoni. This is based on the close dialogue we have had with the team and their deep understanding of our objectives, combined with their solution-oriented approach.”
Strengthening North Hesse as a centre for innovation and defence
The logistics and training centre forms part of the Defence Hub Nordhessen. With a joint investment running into the hundreds of millions, the Hessian state government and Rheinmetall plan to further develop the Kassel site as a centre for modern defence technology. Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein said: “The Defence Hub Nordhessen combines Kassel’s industrial strength with the strategic infrastructure of Kassel Airport, thereby acting as a catalyst for investment, innovation and growth in the region.”
