foster + partners' 'varso tower' becomes tallest building in the EU

varso tower rises over warsaw

Foster + Partners celebrates the completion of its Varso Tower in Warsaw, which now stands as the tallest building in the European Union. The skyscraper marks an integral addition to Varso Place, a development by HB Reavis, and rises over the Polish capital to a record-breaking height of 310 meters (1,017 feet).

Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, comments: ‘We are so proud to be part of this development. Our client HB Reavis has been a fantastic champion of the project throughout and our local collaborators at Epstein and Buro Happold have worked tirelessly alongside us.

‘We believe that the tower, filled with activity and featuring extraordinary rooftop public spaces will make a strong, positive contribution to this wonderful city. We hope that it will become a hub for local and international business and a symbol for contemporary Poland.’

Varso Tower | images © Aaron Hargreaves, Foster + Partners

a lively social hub for visitors

The architects at Foster + Partners introduce Varso Tower to create a gateway to the new development in Warsaw. Situated at the corner of Jana Pawla II and Chmielna Street, the project draws visitors through the building toward a public plaza that connects to the neighboring buildings.

A plaza enclosed by a glass screen becomes the ‘social heart’ of the project, and comes to life with full-height trees and benches to be enjoyed by visitors. This ‘urban room’ forms the point of seamless connection between people who work in the offices — who may use it as a sit-out during breaks — and the public, to access the shops and restaurants in the neighboring buildings.

inside the skyscraper by foster + partners

The public realm continues at the top of the tower, accessed directly from the ground via two panoramic lifts, with a viewing platform at level fifty-three. This is the highest inhabited floor in Poland with uninterrupted views of the city. Level forty-nine will soon offer a fully landscaped terrace bar, with sixteen trees, breaking the record for Warsaw’s highest garden.

The offices are served by two banks of high-capacity double-deck lifts, with each car serving two floors at any one time. With 70,000 square-meters of new office space, the tower features large-span floor-plates with three-meter (9.8-foot) clear height for open plan offices. The building achieves BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Gold certification, due in part to its triple-glazed façades.

Krzysztof Gornicki, Partner, Foster + Partners, comments: ‘We are delighted to see the first tenants moving into the tower, which is the product of close collaboration between Foster + Partners and HB Reavis. The tower’s lobby features a 10-metre-high ceramic artwork by the local artist Krystyna Kaszuba-Wacławek, which brilliantly animates the space.’

Jedrzej Kolesinski, Partner, Foster + Partners, adds: ‘Varso Tower is a timeless addition to the skyline and a vibrant destination in the heart of Warsaw. In addition to the flexible office spaces, the building gives back to the city by providing a dynamic public realm. The tower’s direct underground link with the adjacent Warsaw Central Station will breathe new life into the surrounding urban quarter.’