Photo: Deutsches Museum
Milestones
The Future Initiative has achieved a lot since it was founded in 2006. And between now and 2028 it has much bigger plans.
The Future Initiative of the Deutsches Museum
Milestones of the modernisation project.
May 2028
For the 125th anniversary of the museum's founding, the modernisation of the building has been completed. Now you can enter the exhibitions again through the entrance hall from the museum courtyard.
July 2023
The exhibition rooms in the second construction phase (here the former academy collection) are empty.
April 2022
Sneak Preview: "Agriculture and Nutrition" is presented to the public as the first of the new permanent exhibitions at a press event as a prototype for the new Deutsches Museum.
June 2022
Staart of the campaign for the new Deutsches Museum.
June 2022
On June 28, the "old" exhibitions and demonstrations, such as the mine and lightning show, can be seen and experienced for the last time.
July 2022
General Director Wolfgang M. Heckl and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder press a button to signal the start of the new museum era at the grand ceremony on July 7, 2022.
July 2022
Director General Wolfgang M. Heckl welcomes the first visitor to the new Deutsches Museum on July 8.
July 2022
From July 8 to 10: Three days of opening celebrations for visitors with a large entertainment program on Museum Island.
August 2022
The big clearing out in the second realization stage has already begun.
December 2021
With the Spacelab for the space exhibition, the last large exhibit in the first realization phase returns to the Museum Island.
July 2021
ZEISS Group becomes a member of the Founders' Circle. The donation of 5 million euros goes towards financing the new permanent physics exhibition.
July 2020
The construction work in the first section is almost finished: Most of the walls, ceilings, floors in the southern part of the exhibition building have been renovated, the rooms equipped with modern technical infrastructure. Now the set-up of the new exhibitions begins.
July 2019
New architects: RKW Architektur + Rhode Kellermann Wawrowsky GmbH takes over after the insolvency of the originally commissioned architectural firm.
April 2018
Half-time for the first construction phase: Demolition work has been completed, and refurbishment and modernisation are running at full speed as planned.
March 2017
Start of refurbishment and modernisation: While demolition work is still underway in some areas, the new technical cores are already being moved in at other points (electrical distributors, IT installations, ventilation). In addition, new concrete floors and ceilings are being erected where necessary.
October 2016
Start of construction in the first section: In the first phase of the Future Initiative, the structural modernisation of the exhibitions begins. First, the building sections will be returned to their shell condition, and subsequent fixtures will be demolished.
August 2016
The areas for the first construction phase have been cleared: thousands of objects had to go. From printing technology to aviation hangar, all rooms have now been emptied.
July 2016
As an access to the New Technologies Center, a connecting corridor is being erected along the exterior façade of the museum.
January 2016
The first third of a total of 8,000 objects - such as the Messerschmitt 262 shown here - has now been packed up and transported to the depots or branch museums.
October 2015
Start of the rehabilitation of the embankment wall and construction of a flood protection wall.
October 2015
Start of the comprehensive renovation: The exhibitions of the first construction phase are cleared.
September 2015
A journey to new worlds! Launch of communication campaign for the Future Initiative.
February 2015
Space worlds: Reopening of the renovated planetarium with state-of-the-art ZEISS technology: an analogue star projector and fulldome digital projection.
December 2014
New exhibition concepts: Designs are finalised and approved for new exhibitions in Phase I: Chemistry, Hydrological Engineering / Bridges and Tunnels, Electronics, Robotics, Mathematical cabinet, Model Railway, Agriculture and Nutrition, Music, Photo and Film. For the other exhibitions in Phase I, detailed concepts are complete.
December 2014
Completion of subterranean shell construction for the new Electrical Centre.
September 2014
The Deutsches Museum is growing: Land purchased in Erding outside Munich for the future central depository of the Deutsches Museum.
May 2014
Dieter Lang is appointed by the Administrative Board as the general agent for the Future Initiative construction project.
April 2014
Taking stock: About 1,300 holes are drilled into walls, ceilings and floors to investigate the load-bearing capacity and stability of the more than 100-year-old building.
October 2013
Planning contract: The architects Schmidt-Schicketanz and Partners in Munich are commissioned to plan the refurbishment of the main collections building.
June 2013
Comprehensive planning of the construction phases: Prior to the start of construction, the original multi-phase concept for the planning and refurbishment work is replaced by a comprehensive planning concept with two implementation phases.
February 2013
Western observatory re-opens: The dome and the Zeiss refracting telescope are back in operation after an extensive overhaul and renovations.
April 2012
Work begins to clear out the depository: For the refurbishment of the main collections building, approximately 40,000 exhibits are removed from the depository at the main museum site.
November 2011
All wrapped up: Work completed on roof and facade of main collections building.
October 2011
New main entrance for Verkehrszentrum branch museum: Entrance of Hall I of the Verkehrszentrum is re-opened after redesign in compliance with regulations for listed buildings.
October 2011
Revision of master plan: The refurbishment of the Congress Hall to develop a Forum of the Future is postponed. The Bavarian state government plans to build a concert hall at the site.
July 2011
Soaking up the rays: New photovoltaic facility on the roof of the Flugwerft Schleissheim branch museum begins generating power.
June 2011
Federal and state financing: Agreement signed between the Federal Republic of Germany, the Free State of Bavaria and the Deutsches Museum on the financing and implementation of the Future Initiative. The federal and state governments each contributed 180 million euros – including the funds from the Economic Stimulus II – resulting in a total budget of 400 million euros.
January 2011
Completion of the master plan: The master plan to implement the future initiative provides the basis for a redesign of the exhibitions, and is based on the results of numerous project teams and the ideas and proposals of external experts and planning specialists.
December 2010
With a 5 million euro donation, BMW becomes a member of the Founders' Circle.
October 2010
Launch of exhibit digitisation project: Restoration experts, museologists and curators begin with the digitisation and classification of the approx. 40,000 objects in the underground depository on the Museumsinsel.
July 2010
Repurchase of the Congress Hall: The "Bestelmeyer Building", once used as the Technology Forum, is repurchased by the Deutsches Museum for 3 million euros.
December 2009
Eastern observatory re-opens: After restoration of the Goerz reflecting telescope and structural refurbishment of the dome, the eastern observatory is again open to museum visitors.
November 2009
Opening of Centre for New Technologies (ZNT): Following refurbishments and modernisation work, the former railway exhibition hall opens as an interactive exhibition and research platform.
November 2009
New member in Founders' Circle: Association of the Bavarian Construction Industry donates 5 million euros to the Future Initiative and joins the Founders' Circle.
February 2009
Federal funding announced: The German federal government approves 29 million euros for the Future Initiative from the Economic Stimulus Package II.
January 2008
Founders' Circle growing: Bosch, MAN SE, ThyssenKrupp, Linde, Siemens and Knorr-Bremse each donate 5 million euros to join the Founders' Circle.
November 2007
Launch of the Founders' Circle: The General Director of the Deutsches Museum, Prof. Wolfgang M. Heckl, welcomes the Friends and Sponsors of the Deutsches Museum as the first member of the Future Initiative Founders' Circle with its founding donation of 5 million euros.
December 2006
Future Initiative launched: The Future Initiative is founded by the Federal President of Germany, Horst Köhler.