Potsdamer Platz, in the heart of Berlin, symbolizes the nation’s reunification and points the way into the future for this old and new capital. Before it was reduced to rubble during World War II—and later cut in half by the construction of the Berlin Wall—the square was a shining symbol for the metropolis. After the war, the square remained a no-man’s-land until the reunification of East and West Germany. The demolition of the wall presented a compelling opportunity to revive the square with a totally new mix of uses, and the area around the square became the largest building site in Europe. The new federal government assigned the largest of four quadrants to a development team led by what is now the DaimlerChrysler Group. Between 1993 and 1998, a completely new urban district arose around Potsdamer Platz— office buildings, apartments, shops, and cultural institutions—characterized by striking modern architecture and civic planning concepts. At the southwest corner of this new district is Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, a three-level, 40,000-square-meter (430,556 sf) retail center .