The official start of construction of the ‘Kaufhaus Tyrol’ department store in Innsbruck, Austria, will be celebrated today with the symbolic act of laying the foundation stone. In a prime downtown location on the Maria-Theresien-Strasse, the Kaufhaus Tyrol, designed by David Chipperfield, will be the largest city centre department store in Tirol. The new building will cover the site of the former Kaufhaus Tyrol that expands from Maria-Theresien-Strasse over the whole block to Erlerstrasse. The neighbouring existing building, the former ‘Schindlerhaus’, is being carefully integrated into the project while conserving the overall ensemble.

The project is due for completion in 2010.