This building replaced the old springboard, which served 55 years. As in the case of the Norwegian Holmenkollen, when it ceased to meet the Olympic requirements, it was decided to hold an international competition for the design of a more modern sports facility.
Zaha Hadid and Gunther Benisch's bureau reached the final in autumn 2006, but the victory went to the young Munich workshop terrain: loenhart & mayr.
The preliminary opening of the new ski jump took place at the beginning of last year, but it was not officially "commissioned" until December 2008. The project was inspired by the terrain: the architects sought to fit it into the "profile" of Mount Goodiberg, on which it is located. At the same time, it was important to give the new building a sculptural character, to reflect the acceleration and risk of ski jumping, a sport whose goal is to overcome gravity. All this is conveyed by the energetic cantilever extension of the "acceleration mountain" with a length of about 100 m. A staircase of 332 steps leads to the top of this main element of the springboard complex, as well as an elevator moving along an inclined one. The innovative design, in particular the use of thermoplastic for the lining of the walkway, allows it to be used in any weather - even in summer. Also, the "acceleration mountain" is completely covered with translucent plastic panels that change its appearance depending on the time of day. During the day, it looks like a silvery-white arrow among snow-covered or green slopes; at night, under artificial lighting, it glows from the inside, turning into a kind of lighthouse.
The springboard in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was included in the long list of the EU architectural award - the Mies van der Rohe Prize - for 2009.
