Did you know that the FBC Hochhaus, also known as the Frankfurter Büro Center, wasn’t always a bustling office tower? Its story is one of economic turbulence and eventual triumph.
The FBC Hochhaus stands tall at 142.4 meters. It dominates Frankfurt’s Westend district. This building is located on Mainzer Landstrasse. It sits amidst a series of high-rises. These stretch from Platz der Republik to the Old Opera House.
Construction of the FBC Hochhaus began in 1973. But the oil crisis of 1975 brought everything to a halt. For years, the unfinished structure loomed. It was a stark reminder of economic uncertainty. Nobody wanted to buy it due to high construction costs. Leasing was also risky at the time.
Then, in 1979, the ECE project development company stepped in. They worked with owners and craftsmen. Together they developed a plan. It included completion, technical improvements, and a rental strategy. Finally, in 1981, the FBC Hochhaus was completed. It boasts approximately 52,000 square meters of gross floor area. This is spread across 40 upper and 2 lower floors.
Richard Heil from Frankfurt is the architect behind the FBC Hochhaus. From 1985 to 2007, the building belonged to the Grundwertfonds. This was an open-ended real estate fund of Dresdner Bank subsidiary DEGI. Later, it was sold to Goldman Sachs’ Whitehall real estate fund. Since 2016, the FBC has been owned by PBM Construction Germany GmbH. This is a company of the Berlin-based Intown Group.
Initially, leasing was a challenge. In 2007, about 17,000 square meters of office space were vacant. These were on the lower 20 floors. The leasing rate was around 65%. However, the FBC Hochhaus eventually found its footing.
For many years, the international law firm Clifford Chance was the main tenant. They occupied the building until early 2022. Following that, the Deutsche Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, moved in. They are using the FBC Hochhaus as temporary headquarters. Their main building is being renovated.
In 2007, the foyer was redesigned by Just Burgeff Architects. A café, now known as Bistro Nonna, was added. It functions as a bar and lounge too. The redesign aimed for a “modern classics” feel. Like similar buildings in Manhattan, the FBC Hochhaus now features a front porch. This creates a welcoming entrance area. It visually and functionally opens the building to the public.
Take a look at the square in front of the FBC Hochhaus. There stands a 21-meter-high sculpture. It was created by the artist Claus Bury in 1997.
The FBC Hochhaus overcame economic hardship. It now stands as a symbol of Frankfurt’s resilience and adaptability. It is a testament to the city’s ever-evolving skyline.