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Back in 1998, plans to build a massive office tower in the heart of Frankfurt had already been in the works for nearly a decade when construction began upon Tower 185, following the successful design competition win by architect Christoph Mäckler. Originally designed to top out at 185 metres, hence the name, the final version capped off at 200 metres though the name went unchanged. At 51 storeys high, the tower holds a total of 100,000 square metres of modern office space, 66,000 (or nearly two thirds) of which is leased to anchor tenant PwC. A bold presence on the Frankfurt skyline, Tower 185 is today the fourth largest tower in all of Germany.
Viewed above while under construction in August 2010, Tower 185 is composed of several parts. The dual tower portion (which frames the glass-clad cylindrical portion) rises from between two multi-storey wings that form the podium level, enveloping the main entrance in a horseshoe design and giving the tower much of its distinctive architectural character and identity. Viewed below in July 2011, just after construction wrapped up, the reverse view of the structure from ground level showcases the horseshoe effect to its full extent.
Today a fixture of Frankfurt's business district that is located just outside the Old City, Tower 185 has become a symbol of 21st century Germany. The European nation continues to lead the EU in terms of GDP and economic growth. Viewed below in 2013, the completed Tower 185 can be seen once more from a similar vantage point as the image from 2010, in a wide shot that lets you appreciate the tower amidst its surrounding urban context.
While Frankfurt, and Germany in general, continues to grow its portfolio of highrise developments, the LEED Gold Tower 185 will undoubtedly set a high bar for all future projects set to come forth over the next several years.
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