- Skytower
"This article is about a building; for the communications company Skytower, Inc., see
AeroVironment "Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = European Central Bank Headquarters
status = Planned
groundbreaking = October 2008
est_completion = 2011
use = Office
location =Frankfurt ,Germany
roof = Est. convert|185|m|ft|0
top_floor =
floor_count =
floor_area =
architect =Coop Himmelbau
developer=The Skytower [ [http://www.emporis.com/ge/wm/bu/?id=skytower-frankfurt-germany Skytower, Frankfurt / Emporis.com ] ] is a proposed building complex located in the eastern part ofFrankfurt ,Germany . It includes a 185-meter-skyscraper which will be the new headquarter for theEuropean Central Bank (ECB) [cite web |url=http://www.ecb.eu/ecb/premises/html/index.en.html |title=New ECB Premises |publisher=European Central Bank |accessdate=2008-03-08] . The domicile of the ECB needs to be within the city limits of Frankfurt, the largest financial centre in theEurozone , as it was declared by theAmsterdam Treaty cite web|title = Consolidated versions of the treaty on European Union and of the treaty establishing the European Community|publisher = Eur-lex|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate = 2007-06-12 ] .Construction was planned to start in late 2008, but was put on hold in June 2008 as the ECB was unable to find a contractor that would build the Skytower for the allocated budget of 500 million Euro. [FAZ, 27. Juni 2008 [http://www.faz.net/s/RubFAE83B7DDEFD4F2882ED5B3C15AC43E2/Doc~E9BD1914FC3E94B419F8071313B08BE5C~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html Angebot für EZB-Turm lautete auf 1,4 Milliarden Euro] (German, retrieved 2008-09-10)]
Current situation
The ECB currently resided in the Eurotower and two other skyscrapers in the Bankenviertel ("financial district") of Frankfurt.
Development
In 1999, an international architectural competition was launched by the bank to design a new building. It was won by a
Vienna -based architectural office calledCoop Himmelbau . The building will be approximately 185 meters tall and will be accompanied by other secondary buildings on a landscaped site on the site of the former wholesale market (Großmarkthalle ) in the eastern part of Frankfurt. The main construction work was planned to commence in October 2008, with completion scheduled for before the end of 2011. [cite web|title = Winning design by Coop Himmelb(l)au for the ECB's new headquarters in Frankfurt/Main|date=2003-01-06|publisher = European Central Bank|url=http://www.ecb.eu/ecb/premises/html/image29.en.html|format=|accessdate = 2007-08-02 ] [cite web|title = Launch of a public tender for a general contractor to construct the new ECB premises|date=2003-01-06|publisher = European Central Bank|url=http://www.ecb.eu/press/pr/date/2007/html/pr070710_3.en.html|format=|accessdate = 2007-08-02 ] The project was put on hold in June 2008. [cite web|title = The European Central Bank formally closes the public tender for a general contractor to build the new ECB premises|date=2008-06-25|publisher = European Central Bank|url=http://www.ecb.eu/press/pr/date/2008/html/pr080625.en.html|format=|accessdate = 2008-09-10 ]It is expected that the building will become an architectural symbol for Europe and is designed to cope with double the number of staff who operate in the Eurotower.cite web|last=Dougherty|first=Carter|title = In ECB future, a new home to reflect all of Europe|publisher =
International Herald Tribune |date=2004-11-16|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/11/16/ecb_ed3_.php|format=|accessdate = 2007-08-02 ]Design
The main building is estimated to be convert|185|m|ft|0 tall and surrounded by other structures that will also serve as offices of ECB staff. It is expected the complex will have twice the capacity of the current temporary home. [cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/11/16/ecb_ed3_.php |title=In ECB future, a new home to reflect all of Europe |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=2004-11-16 |author=Carter Dougherty |accessdate=2008-03-08]
Großmarkthalle_siteImage:Grossmarkthalle-ffm004.jpg|Großmarkthalle_siteImage:Grossmarkthalle_Frankfurt.jpg|Großmarkthalle_siteImage:Eurotower-ffm003.jpg|Existing_locationReferences
External links
* [http://www.new-ecb-premises.com/home_frame.html The project's main page]
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