Werkhof Hannover hosts workshops, meetings, seminars, conferences and congresses for groups of 8 to about 170 people. Ten rooms, a restaurant and a 39-room hotel share one site in the Nordstadt district of Hannover, so a program over several days can run without any transfers.
Seminars and company events
The conference side of the Werkhof covers everything from a small working session to a congress in the largest hall. Rooms can be set up as a horseshoe, a circle, block tables, rows or lecture style, and the team can furnish each room to match the format of the day. Standard equipment includes a projector or smartboard, flipcharts or wall boards, a Metaplan wall and a moderation kit. The venue also offers Cannyboard digital meeting technology, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Access is barrier-free. Room plans for all spaces are available as a PDF.
Beyond meetings, the Werkhof hosts private and business events, and the restaurant can extend its opening hours for a closed party. Groups of more than ten book by email or phone.
Rooms and capacities
The largest space is the Hävemeier & Sander-Halle, a 330 square meter hall for up to 170 people. The Foyer, with 80 or 120 square meters depending on the configuration, holds up to 90 people and suits a reception, breakout groups or an exhibition next to the plenary. The Werkräume are smaller workshop rooms of 15 to 70 square meters for 8 to 50 participants. In total the site offers ten rooms, enough to combine one plenary with several breakout groups on the same day.
Accommodation
The Werkhof Hotel, entered from Kniestraße 33, has 39 rooms in six categories. Single rooms measure 16 square meters, double and grand-lit rooms 17 to 26 square meters, and family rooms 32 square meters for two adults and two children. Most rooms face the inner courtyard. Breakfast is a large buffet with organic, Fair Trade and homemade products. A water, coffee and tea station is free for guests, bikes can be rented, and hotel guests can park in the garage at Kniestraße.
Catering
Meeting catering comes from the Werkhof restaurant: a drinks buffet, a morning snack, lunch and afternoon cake, with vegetarian and vegan options. The restaurant itself has an industrial interior, a winter garden, a sunny terrace and direct access to a beer garden. The kitchen cooks German and international dishes with regional, organic and Fair Trade products, plus seasonal specials.
History and setting
Until the 1980s, the site was the plant where the company Hävemeier & Sander built elevators, which explains the name of the main hall. The old factory buildings were later renovated with ecological materials and care for their original structure. Today the site covers more than 7,000 square meters, with green courtyards and roofs, rainwater used for toilet flushing, and its own electricity and heat production. The Werkhof also rents around 20 office units, and a team of about 40 people runs the whole complex.
Getting there
The main entrance for conferences and the restaurant is at Schaufelder Straße 11, 30167 Hannover. The city center is about 15 minutes away on foot. Hotel guests drive to Kniestraße 33, where the garage is located. The venue publishes a detailed route description as a PDF.
