B. Braun is investing in a new seminar and convention center on the grounds of the listed Haydau Convent in Morschen. This involves restoring the service buildings of the former estate together with the orangery and manor house with a view to creating a new meeting venue. Today, the convent has already been restored and is used as a meeting venue. In future, B. Braun Melsungen AG will concentrate all of its training and continuing education activities in the new convention center. The proximity to the company’s headquarters in Melsungen was an important factor influencing the investment decision.

In total, the company is investing over €30 million in the project, of which some €20 million alone will go towards building the conference hotel and over €10 million towards converting the neighboring buildings.

In future, some 130 guest beds will be available for B. Braun employees and external customers, with an annual total of 17,000 overnight stays planned. Other companies and private persons will also be able to use the hotel.

After the purchase agreement was signed by the municipality of Morschen and B. Braun in April 2009, an architectural competition was launched. The ideal design would integrate a new building within the medieval convent site as harmoniously as possible, shifting the main focus of the estate back to the church and the 13th century convent.

The winner was selected in October of the same year. First prize went to Hamburg-based architect firm Störmer Murphy & Partners, also responsible for projects in Hamburg’s HafenCity. Chairman of the Management Board Prof. Dr. h.c. Ludwig Georg Braun stated: “I have no doubt that we have found the right design for Morschen and for the estate”.

Owing to the listed status of the convent, the conversion is set to be an extremely demanding process. For instance, it will be necessary to rediscover old craft techniques and material compositions such as “earth wrapping” for the ceilings of the building.

Restoration work on the manor house has already begun, and the ground-breaking ceremony for the new conference hotel is expected at the turn of the year. Even after the conversion has been completed, the people of Morschen will still be able to use the orangery for community gatherings. Conference rooms are to be included in the service buildings.

The entire construction project on the site is scheduled to continue for a period of three years. The completion of the convention center is planned for mid-2012.