Silberturm
The Silver Tower ( also called Silver Tower or shekel ) in the station district of Frankfurt am Main is one of the most famous skyscraper in the Main metropolis. From 1978 to 1990, the 166 meter high tower was the tallest building in Europe until it was surpassed by the Frankfurt Fair Tower. By 2008 the silver tower served as headquarters of Dresdner Bank and is therefore often referred to as Dresdner Bank Twin Towers or after its location, as Jürgen- Ponto - skyscraper. After an extensive renovation since April 23, 2012 uses the German train with the group's own IT service provider DB Systel GmbH, the building as a tenant.
Location and History
The Silver Tower stands at the Jürgen- Ponto-Platz, which opens to the Kaiser Road. The square is named after Jürgen Ponto, the former chairman of the Dresdner Bank, was murdered by members of the RAF in 1977. From 1978 to 2008, the silver tower formed, along with the seven -story building Board Gallusanlage 8, the corporate headquarters of the Dresdner Bank in 2003 was also moved into the neighboring Gallileo skyscraper. The board member Manfred Meier - Preschany was entrusted with the artistic design of the boardroom. In addition to important works of Dresden Brücke artists, by Max Beckmann, works by Bauhaus masters as well as sculptures by Calder and Moore, Meier - Preschany had also acquired the sculpture L' Homme qui marche I by Alberto Giacometti. It was auctioned on behalf of Commerzbank in February 2010 for the equivalent of 75 million euros. Outside there was also the continuity sculpture by Max Bill.
As part of the acquisition of Dresdner Bank by Commerzbank in early 2009 planned this to sell the silver tower, because the space was no longer needed. Since a sale of the building, which is worth about 200 million euros, due to the financial crisis does not seem possible, the complete wedding house was rented in the summer of 2009, long-term to the German railway. In addition, the railway also leased the building Gallusanlage 8, the Gallileo Tower, Commerzbank, however, continue to use.
Already at the end of 2008, the Dresdner Bank employees went out from the Silver Tower, the beginning of 2009 marked the beginning of a complete renovation. The goal is to modernize the office space and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption by one-third. The renovation is necessary for fire protection and asbestos reasons, in addition to the renovation contribute to climate protection. Commerzbank seeks a certificate of the German Society for Sustainable Building in silver. The characteristic facade of the tower is maintained. Beginning of 2009 the company began gutting the building, at the beginning of 2010, the facade exchange had begun.
Early November 2011, Commerzbank announced the sale of the building to a group of investors led by the real estate company IVG Immobilien Bonn with. On 16 February 2012, the silver tower was handed over after renovation work symbolically to the new owner and the tenant German IVG Immobilien web, also officially called " Silver Tower " was used for the high-rise for the first time. In the first half of 2012, the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Systel moved its headquarters into the building. For gentle and energetic complete renovation of the building, the Frankfurt architects Schneider Schumacher in 2012 received the preliminary silver DGNB.
Construction
The tower has two basement floors and 32 floors above ground. In the third and fourth floor was located until 2008 and is now again the staff canteen. The 31st floor was home to 1994 a fire protection regulations prescribed water reservoir, which was used as a swimming pool. A few years ago it was converted to a large conference room. The windows reach from the ceiling to the floor. The 32nd floor was partially destroyed in a fire on April 1, 1998.
In the typical floors, the floor height is 4.2 m with a floor area of 1900 m². Established is the high-rise on a 4.0 m thick and 3400 m² of reinforced concrete slab. In plan, the high-rise consists of two large, rounded squares, which are staggered in the longitudinal direction by a few meters. In the niches thus formed are located on each side an elongated rounded rectangle, in which the service cores (lifts, emergency stairwells ) are located. The theme of the rounded corners can be found throughout the building again: at the windows and pillars and signs inside.
Others
The building served as the backdrop for the 1984 German feature film down. Now no longer existing - - Swimming Pool seen in the opening scenes, too, is.