LOCATION
Thünentreppe
58511 Lüdenscheid
ARTIST
STERN-CENTER
The City-Center Lüdenscheid (CCL), the predecessor of the STERN-CENTER, was built between 1974 and 1977 as an inner-city shopping center, originally planned by Kaufhof AG. With a total area of 30,000 m² and 18,700 m² of commercial space, it offered space for 70 stores, including both owner-managed stores and chain stores. Kaufhof AG acted as anchor tenant on 7,700 m². The City-Center Lüdenscheid was designed according to the plans of architect Horst W. Reckewell from Recklinghausen. The Cologne-based construction company Helmut Fingerle was responsible for the realization of the building. The architecture of the CCL followed the Brutalist style, characterized by exposed concrete, simple geometric shapes and functional design. After a partial opening in MARch 1977, the official opening ceremony took place in September of the same year. Despite several extensions and conversions, including a glass façade (1985) and new entrances, the CCL struggled with letting problems from the outset. In 1990, the Lüdenscheid entrepreneur Reinhold Zimmermann bought the building at auction for DM 30.2 million, although the previous investments amounted to DM 120 million. In 1991, a comprehensive refurbishment followed, which resulted in an 18-month closure and the termination of all 51 leases. The center was reopened as the STERN-CENTER.
