March 2026 News Topping-out ceremony for the Mack Pyramid
In Monheim am Rhein, an architectural statement is rising skyward: The expansion of the iconic Mack Pyramid has reached a major milestone with the installation of its central load-bearing steel structure. On March 8—just in time for artist Heinz Mack’s 95th birthday—NUSSLI celebrated the topping-out ceremony together with its project partners. As the general contractor, NUSSLI is responsible for the implementation of this challenging and extraordinary construction and cultural project.
Where Art Meets Structural Engineering
A second, mirrored pyramid is superimposed over the existing pyramid—the tips of both structures meet in midair. A symbol of balance and artistic tension, and at the same time an architectural challenge that places the highest demands on geometry, design, and structural engineering. The steel support structure had to be constructed despite difficult ground conditions, while the new construction and renovation of the existing building proceeded in parallel. Construction progressed precisely according to plan: In early February, the load-bearing columns were installed around the structure; on February 23, the next technical milestone followed with the hoisting of the central steel elements by two mobile cranes. Thanks to the now-visible double structure, the extension is already shaping the cityscape of Monheim am Rhein.
The artist was there
The topping-out ceremony was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the 95th birthday of Heinz Mack, the project’s namesake and a key figure in its development. The artist and co-founder of the ZERO movement was there in person and expressed his admiration for the construction.
It's impressive and very professional—especially those steel structures. The way the light enters—an essential part of his artwork inside the pyramid—is to be preserved. I'm excited and looking forward to it.
A cultural project with a wide reach
After the construction of the Europe's largest sports arena is the Mack Pyramid This is already the second project that NUSSLI is carrying out in Monheim am Rhein—this time for the arts. The expansion will create additional exhibition space for contemporary art and transform the renovated Pyramid into a cultural attraction that draws visitors from far beyond the city limits. With the topping-out ceremony, the transition to the next construction phases is gradually beginning. The first exhibition spaces are scheduled to open in the fall of 2026, with full completion planned for the fall of 2027.
