A giant of steel and concrete. That’s the Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt. This imposing building stands before us a testament to labor history. In 1931 it opened its doors. It was a bold statement. A nine-story behemoth in a city of smaller structures. The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt wasn’t just an office building. It housed a hotel. It boasted restaurants and event halls. It was a hub of activity. A center for the labor movement.
The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt’s design was modern. It followed the functionalist style. This clashed with the existing architecture of the neighborhood. It was a deliberate break from tradition. A reflection of the times. This modern design caused controversy. The location in a villa district sparked a legal battle. The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt ultimately won the right to stand. But the court forbade a hotel and garden restaurant.
Construction took just eleven months. It cost 1.7 million Reichsmarks. That’s about 8.2 million Euros in today’s value. The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt provided approximately 4000 square meters of office space. The building featured a steel skeleton. The supporting columns were precisely 6.5 meters apart. The flat roof was a signature element.
After the Nazis came to power. The independent trade unions were banned. The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt was seized. The German Labor Front took over on May 10 1933. They renamed it “House of Labor”. They had ambitious expansion plans. These plans were never realized.
In 1946 the newly founded free unions reclaimed the Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt. The street where it sits was renamed. It honors Wilhelm Leuschner a prominent trade union leader. In 1967 IG Metall built its headquarters next door. A modern high-rise replaced it in 2003. The Main Forum now stands tall. The Gewerkschaftshaus Frankfurt though remains a powerful symbol. It is a reminder of the struggles and triumphs of the labor movement.