Companies

Deichmann CEO: Sustainability Anchors New Essen Campus

May 26, 2026 Germany

Deichmann tells World Footwear how photovoltaics, geothermal energy and green roofs fit into an integrated concept behind the new Essen headquarters gateway

“With our new campus, we are deliberately investing in long-term, sustainable infrastructure. Photovoltaics, geothermal energy and green roofs are not individual showcases, but part of an integrated concept designed to reduce our environmental footprint and ensure efficient operations over the campus’s entire lifecycle”, Heinrich Deichmann told World Footwear in an exclusive statement.

Deichmann inaugurated a new headquarters and office building on its Essen campus in late February, presenting the project as both a symbolic gateway and a functional expansion of its corporate base.

The atrium-style, five-storey building forms the redesigned main entrance to the site, as the retailer continues to emphasise its long-standing presence in the city.

Heinrich Deichmann, Chairman of the Management Board, linked the opening to the group’s trajectory and its commitment to Essen, saying: “The new building reflects our positive development and our long-term commitment to our home base of Essen”.

He added that the investment was designed to support the business’s future viability and create updated workplaces, with space for around 1,500 employees at the Essen headquarters.

Deichmann said initial teams have already moved into the new premises, with remaining departments scheduled to return from temporary locations as the transition to the completed building continues.

Campus

The company describes the development as part of a wider modernisation of the Deichmann Campus, with other buildings on the site refurbished alongside the new construction.

According to Deichmann, the new building incorporates a sustainability-focused energy concept combining photovoltaic generation and geothermal systems, complemented by roof greening.

The campus redesign also includes landscaping measures and the integration of green spaces, with the company highlighting an approach intended to sit alongside surrounding residential areas.

Relevance

In further exclusive comments to the World Footwear portal, Deichmann also linked the campus design to talent attraction and employee wellness.

“At the same time, these elements help create a modern working environment that supports collaboration and wellbeing. We firmly believe that sustainable business practices and employer attractiveness go hand in hand – especially at our Essen headquarters, which reflects both our responsibility as a family-owned company and our long-term ambition”.

Presence

The inauguration brought together figures from politics, business and culture, including North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister President Hendrik Wüst and the mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen.

Wüst described the investment as “a clear vote of confidence in North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location,” adding that the state government aimed to set “the economy firmly back on a path to growth”.

Kufen characterised the new headquarters as a visible addition to the cityscape and highlighted changes linked to the relocation of the main entrance, the opening of pathways for public access and the landscaping of green areas. He presented the project as an example of corporate development aligned with urban planning objectives and sustainable construction principles.

Image Credits: Deichmann

Germany Companies Deichmann Footwear Sustainability