The archticts of the new Chancellery Axel Schultes (L) and Charlotte Frank pose in front...

The archticts of the new Chancellery Axel Schultes (L) and Charlotte Frank pose in front of the building following the opening ceremony in Berlin May 2, 2001. The massive new Chancellery at the heart of Berlin was designed by Schroeder's predecessor Helmut Kohl and built at the prize of 465 million mark ($213 million). The imposing building has 12,000 square meters (129,200 sq ft) of floor space, 370 offices and 13 winter gardens. [The building is eight times as large as the White House in Washington and could easily fit Britain's 10 Downing Street into its a foyer according to newspaper reports.]