A new record has been set in the European Union as Varso Tower, now the tallest building in the EU, has been completed. Located in Warsaw, Poland, the 1,017-foot structure overtook Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, Germany, which previously held the record at 850 feet. Spanning 53 stories, the mixed-use building will soon house offices, restaurants, and two observation decks throughout its 753,474-square-foot space. Designed by British architectural firm Foster + Partners, the skyscraper is defined by a triple-glazed glass façade and a roughly 262-foot spire crowning the top.
“We believe that the tower, filled with activity and featuring extraordinary rooftop public spaces, will make a strong, positive contribution to this wonderful city,” Grant Brooker, head of studio and senior executive partner at Foster + Partners, said in a statement. “We hope that it will become a hub for local and international business and a symbol for contemporary Poland.”
Named after Varsovia, the latin name for Warsaw, the building serves as the gateway to a new business park development, Varso Place. Located in downtown Warsaw, the entire complex with connect to Warsaw Central, the primary railroad station in the city. “The project marks an important step in the development of one of Europe’s most exciting cities,” Jarosław Kujawa, project principal at Buro Happold, the firm responsible for the structural engineering of the tower, said in a statement. Energy-efficient strategies implemented into the design and engineering also resulted in the building achieving a BREEAM Outstanding certification.
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Inside Varso Tower, an enclosed plaza acts as the “social heart” of the project. Full height trees and benches provide a calm setting for both building tenants to enjoy during a break and to the public, who can access nearby shops and businesses through the plaza. A viewing platform on the 53rd floor will also be open to the public, which is accessible through two panoramic elevators. On the 49th floor, visitors will find a fully landscaped terrace bar, which will break the record for the highest garden in Warsaw.
