Architecture firm Goettsch Partners has been retained by developers Golub & Co. and Golub GetHouse Sp. z o.o to design a new Class A office development project located in Warsaw, Poland.
The Mennica Legacy Tower development is located in the central business district of Warsaw. GP will collaborate with Epstein, a design firm with offices in both Chicago and Warsaw, which will guide the project through the government approval process in Warsaw and serve as architect and engineer of record as well as design engineer for MEP and structural engineering services.
The program is divided into a 35-story tower located on the south east side of the site and a10-story building on the west side of the site. It is part of a newly-approved master plan that governs development in this area.
The project consists of approximately 100,000 gross sm, with 80,000 gross sm of Class A office space that includes a conference and a fitness center, as well as ground level retail. Four levels of underground parking and ancillary services encompass the remaining 26,000 gross sm. Between the two structures is a large open plaza that provides ample space for outdoor seating and a variety of landscape features.
James Goettsch, FAIA, CEO and Chairman of GP, explains one of his firm’s goals for this project, “…an opportunity to do more than just build a building. The office tower and the lower block are designed to be integrally linked with the large urban plaza, and the result will be an ensemble that will create a unique ‘sense of place’ which we hope will enhance the public realm of Warsaw.”
The 2,000-sm tower floor plate provides an almost column free space with 11- to 13-meter lease spans and a 1.35-meter planning grid. The tower mass has rounded corners on the northeast and southwest sides that reduces the visible length of the east and west facades, and features a strong vertical edge on the opposite corners. The southeast and northwest corners are further highlighted by slightly recessed vertical slots that break up the building’s mass and introduce a dominant, recognizable feature that will make the building an urban landmark. The textured, saw tooth facades reinforce the rounded corners and gives the enclosure an ever-changing appearance as one moves around the building.
The southeast corner of the tower steps in three-floor increments outwards towards the top, which opens up the slot to the sky and creates a dynamic and unique profile that will be a glowing building feature at night. A sloping screen wall at the building’s top further highlights the profile and emphasizes its highest point on the southeast corner.
The taller building will have a three-story lobby with a cable-supported enclosure, utilizing a low iron glass with a non-reflective coating that blurs the boundary between interior and exterior space. The tower core is clad with large stone slabs that accentuate the solid mass of the core, in contrast to the lightness of the building’s lobby.
Construction on Mennica Legacy Tower is expected to begin late in 2015 and will be completed late in 2018.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Apr 13, 2023
L.A. headquarters for startup Califia Farms incorporates post-pandemic hybrid workplace design concepts
The new Los Angeles headquarters for fast-growing Califia Farms, a brand of dairy alternative products, was designed by SLAM with the post-Covid hybrid work environment in mind. Located in Maxwell Coffee House, a historic production facility built in 1924 that has become a vibrant mixed-use complex, the office features a café bordered by generous meeting rooms.
Market Data | Apr 11, 2023
Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023
Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver top the list of U.S/Canadian cities with the greatest number of fixed cranes on construction sites, according to Rider Levett Bucknall's RLB Crane Index for North America for Q1 2023.
Contractors | Apr 10, 2023
What makes prefabrication work? Factors every construction project should consider
There are many factors requiring careful consideration when determining whether a project is a good fit for prefabrication. JE Dunn’s Brian Burkett breaks down the most important considerations.
Mixed-Use | Apr 7, 2023
New Nashville mixed-use high-rise features curved, stepped massing and wellness focus
Construction recently started on 5 City Blvd, a new 15-story office and mixed-use building in Nashville, Tenn. Located on a uniquely shaped site, the 730,000-sf structure features curved, stepped massing and amenities with a focus on wellness.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
New tool from Perkins&Will will make public health data more accessible to designers and architects
Called PRECEDE, the dashboard is an open-source tool developed by Perkins&Will that draws on federal data to identify and assess community health priorities within the U.S. by location. The firm was recently awarded a $30,000 ASID Foundation Grant to enhance the tool.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
Design for belonging: An introduction to inclusive design
The foundation of modern, formalized inclusive design can be traced back to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The movement has developed beyond the simple rules outlined by ADA regulations resulting in features like mothers’ rooms, prayer rooms, and inclusive restrooms.
Sustainability | Apr 4, 2023
NIBS report: Decarbonizing the U.S. building sector will require massive, coordinated effort
Decarbonizing the building sector will require a massive, strategic, and coordinated effort by the public and private sectors, according to a report by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).
Legislation | Mar 24, 2023
New York lawmakers set sights on unsafe lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes and scooters
Lawmakers in New York City and statewide have moved to quell the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes and scooters.
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Mass Timber | Mar 19, 2023
A 100% mass timber construction project is under way in North Carolina
An office building 100% made from mass timber has started construction within the Live Oak Bank campus in Wilmington, N.C. The 67,000-sf structure, a joint building venture between the GCs Swinerton and Wilmington-headquartered Monteith Construction, is scheduled for completion in early 2024.
