The goal for the district at Potsdamer Platz was to create a lively inner-city area. As one of the central places in the new metropolis, it should be "alive all around the clock". Any kind of monoculture such as a purely office development or solely residential construction was to be avoided.

Therefore the planning called for a mixed usage with 50% offices, 20% apartments and 30% special purposes. The latter includes a shopping street, the Potsdamer Platz Arcades, the Theater at Potsdamer Platz, the BLUEMAX Theater, the Berlin Casino, the ADAGIO night club, the CinemaxX movie center, the Grand Hyatt Hotel Berlin, the Mandala Hotel and many cafés, restaurants and bars. In addition, Potsdamer Platz has been the venue for the International Berlin Film Festival since 2000. For this occasion, the Musical Theater becomes the "Berlinale Palast".

Between 70,000 and 100,000 people use the various facilities offered by Potsdamer Platz every day.