Varso Tower has been the tallest skyscraper in the EU for five years at 310 meters

Warsaw – The skyscraper Varso Tower has risen in the Polish capital, and five years ago, on February 20, 2021, upon the installation of the antenna, it became the tallest building of its kind in the European Union, standing over 310 meters high. It surpassed giants in Frankfurt, Milan, and Paris, and even closely rivaled London's Shard. The structure, owned by the developer group HB Reavis, was completed in September 2022. Last September, an observation deck was opened on the roof of the skyscraper. The construction cost about 500 million euros.

The building was propelled to the top of the tallest buildings in 27 EU countries by an eighty-meter steel antenna; otherwise, Varso measures 230 meters from the base of the building to the roof. The facility, designed by the British studio Foster+Partners, includes not only office space but also two terraces with views of the center of Warsaw. Two glass elevators transporting visitors travel at a speed of eight meters per second. There will also be a restaurant and bar at the top with views of the center of Warsaw.

A crucial challenge for the builders was logistics, specifically how to get materials onto a relatively small plot in the city center. Additionally, coordinating up to 1300 workers was necessary. "The structure is decreasing in height due to its own weight, so such a building needs to be built a few centimeters taller than the plans indicate in order to ultimately achieve the correct height," said Maciej Olczyk, the project director.

Construction and leasing of spaces were slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Like the entire economy, leasing office spaces had a tough time last year," Olczyk added. The coronavirus also affected adjustments to the ventilation and air purification systems, reception protection, and contactless solutions for motion sensors for lights and doors.

The entire Varso complex consists of three buildings; besides the tallest one, there are two shorter buildings measuring 90 and 81 meters. The total area of the building is 140,000 square meters, with a total office space of 63,800 square meters. The budget stands at 500 million euros.

The Warsaw Tower signifies an important historical and symbolic change for the Polish metropolis. It surpassed the previously tallest building in Warsaw – the Palace of Culture and Science (PKiN) – by 73 meters, which had held the title since 1955. The so-called "Stalin's gift" in the style of socialist realism is considered by some to be a gem of the metropolis, a cultural center, and a landmark, while others would prefer to demolish it as a hated symbol of communism.