Regarding Nuremberg’s skyline, have you noticed that striking cylindrical tower? This is the Business Tower Nuremberg. It stands as a testament to modern architecture. It also represents the city’s economic strength.
Let’s delve into the story of this impressive structure. The Business Tower’s construction began in 1996. It was completed in 2000. The official inauguration took place on October 12, 2000. The Nuremberg Insurance Company held an open day shortly after. Around 30,000 visitors attended.
The Business Tower Nuremberg is 135 meters tall. That is up to its gondola. It was the first building in Nuremberg to exceed 100 meters. It held the title of Bavaria’s tallest office building. That was until the Uptown Munich skyscraper was completed. Today, it remains an iconic landmark. It is also the second tallest building in Nuremberg. Only the telecommunications tower surpasses it.
The Nuremberg Insurance Company sought a new building in 1992. They launched an architectural competition. Over 110 designs were submitted. Friedrich Biefang and Peter Dürschinger won first prize in 1993. They refined their design from 1994 to 1996.
The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on June 3, 1996. The foundation stone was laid on December 11, 1996. During construction, the tower grew by one floor each week. The tower reached its final height in spring 2000.
The Business Tower has 35 floors. Its floor area covers 32,000 square meters. Impressively, the tower weighs approximately 50,000 tons. The building’s cylindrical shape measures 32.5 meters in diameter.
The tower’s design incorporates several interesting features. It has a double glazed facade. The facade consists of about 1,600 individual parts. Steel threads are embedded in the glass. These threads dampen radar waves. This is important because the airport is within sight of the tower. The building stands on 52 bored piles. These piles extend up to 22 meters into the ground. The base plate is 1.50 meters thick. The building has two staircases with 737 steps each.
The Business Tower also demonstrates a commitment to green energy. The inner courtyard features an 8,000 square meter lake. Rainwater from green roof areas fills the lake. Underground cisterns store the water. The water is used for outdoor facilities and fire protection. Solar panels on the nearby railway line provide solar heat. This helps treat domestic water. The braking energy of the elevators is also used. This recovers up to 20% of their electricity consumption.
Interestingly, the Business Tower once faced criticism. Its light column pointing upwards at night was seen as light pollution. The lighting has since been converted to LED. The light output has been reduced. The lights are switched off by 11 p.m.
The Business Tower’s name was chosen for its international appeal. It also represents the building’s purpose. The name signals modernity. Today, the Business Tower Nuremberg remains a prominent feature of the city. It symbolizes Nuremberg’s economic strength and architectural innovation.