At 310 metres, Varso Tower is the tallest building in the European Union.
The building’s mixed-use programme of offices and two public observation decks with a restaurant and its connection with Warsaw’s main railway station strengthen the Polish capital’s position as a regional financial and commercial centre.
Buro Happold was responsible for the building services on a complex site in the dense urban context

Forming the focal point of Warsaw’s skyline and the cornerstone of the flagship Varso Place development, Varso Tower is the tallest building in the European Union and is set to become a highly sought-after destination for businesses, residents and tourists. The 53-storey mixed-use tower houses 70,000 square metres of space, including offices, a restaurant near the top of the building, two observation decks and a ground-floor cafe venue. An 80-metre spire crowns the tower’s dynamic form. The landmark project invigorates the heart of Warsaw as a hub of commercial activity and as one of the most dynamic capitals of Europe.

The building’s height and its small site in a dense area posed a challenge for engineering and construction. The project team’s solution embraced these conditions as determining factors in the building process. Buro Happold executed the design in dialogue with the existing infrastructure and neighbouring railway lines.

Grant Brooker, Head of Studio and Senior Executive Partner, Foster + Partners, states: “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.”

Jarosław Kujawa, Project Principal, Buro Happold, underscores the significance of Varso Tower’s completion for the city of Warsaw: “Varso Tower is a unique building in many aspects and required an integrated, multidisciplinary approach. The dynamic architecture of the top of the tower involving the spire, technical areas, restaurant, viewing terraces, lifts and other features responds to the character of the heart of Warsaw and provides stunning vistas of the Vistula River, the historic Palace of Culture and Science and beyond. The project marks an important step in the development of one of Europe’s most exciting cities.”

In addition to being responsible for structural and MEP engineering, Buro Happold conducted an extensive sustainability study for Varso Tower, forecasting the performance of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems up to three decades into the future and using these projections to determine installation. Twelve double-deck lifts serving the office floors grant access to two levels at a time. The energy-efficient strategy integrated into the building’s conception led to Varso Tower’s BREEAM Outstanding certification.

Team:

Client: HB Reavis

Lead Architect: Foster + Partners

Local Architect: Epstein

Engineers: Buro Happold

Photo Credits: Aaron Hargreaves, HB Reavis

Protection sometimes goes to the very heart of the building, as is the case with the Varso Tower. One of Europe’s tallest skyscrapers, it features Interpon’s Redox Primer Plus at its core combined with a striking Noir Sablé D2525 topcoat to provide superior levels of protection against corrosion and rust and anything else that the ravages of a withering winter in Warsaw can offer.

Magnicity to operate the top of the Varso Tower in Warsaw, the tallest skyscraper in the European Union

Magnicity has been appointed by HB Reavis, owner of the Varso Place development located in Warsaw, Poland, to operate the top three floors of the tallest tower in the European Union, the Varso Tower. With this sixth site operated by Magnicity in the world, the announcement of which comes just a few weeks after the signing of the operation of the top of the Zalmhaven I Tower in Rotterdam and the acquisition of the patent for the sustainable Spiral Tower attraction, Magnicity has established itself as the leader of urban elevated tourism.

Designed by the international architectural firm Foster + Partners, the landmark Varso Tower rises above the Polish capital at a height of 310 meters. Overlooking the Varso Place, this office tower, which also has an observatory, is ideally located close to the city center and the Central Station. The Magnicity site at the Varso Tower will include a tree-lined terrace on the 49th floor, as well as a rooftop located at the top of the tower on the 53rd floor. This site will offer its visitors a unique panoramic view of Warsaw, an immersive experience, and a large bar facing its rooftop garden and the famous Palace of Culture and Science.

Magnicity's ambition is to create a new must-see place to visit the city and to make Warsaw shine internationally. The creation and development of the premises will beginthe 2nd quarter of 2024 and the opening to the public is scheduled for summer 2025.

Magnicity, the leading player in urban elevated leisure
With the exploitation of spaces located at the top of iconic towers in France, Germany, the United States and the Netherlands, Magnicity has proven its ability to reinvent places where entertainment and discovery of the city are harmoniously combined. In Warsaw, Magnicity will offer visitors and locals alike a memorable experience. With this new project, Magnicity reinforces its position as a leader in urban leisure at the top of tall towers and demonstrates its interest in emblematic cities with strong development.

Warsaw's tourism boom
Warsaw is one of the most dynamic capitals in Europe. The city is experiencing a remarkable economic boom, reinforced by Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004. Named Best Destination 2023 by the European Best Destination Organization, Warsaw has become an attractive tourist hub. In 2022, the city welcomed 9 million tourists, both domestic and international. It is enjoying a growing popularity on social media. In addition, the city offers a high-quality urban living environment, is involved in sustainable development, and strengthens its cultural influence.

For Magnicity, setting up in Warsaw represents an opportunity to actively participate in this dynamic by deploying its expertise.

"I am very proud that Magnicity is moving to Warsaw on top of the iconic Varso Tower. Our ambition, within the group, is to offer unique experiences that are a source of emotions and allow you to discover the city differently. I am delighted that HB Reavis was convinced by our proposal and expertise. A new sequence is now opening up, in the construction of the project that I am confident will seduce many visitors. " says Alexia Vettier, CEO of Magnicity.

“Since design stage we wanted to share Varso Tower's skyline views not only with office tenants, but the general public. The huge interest in visiting the Warsaw skyscraper's rooftop made us engage with a partner experienced in managing such places. Therefore, we are proud to have signed a 20-year lease with Magnicity, which successfully delivers amazing experiences and safety for visitors to similar venues in Chicago, Paris, Berlin and Rotterdam. Like residents and tourists alike, we too can't wait to see the rooftop terraces open to everyone. See you up there!” says Cezary Błaszczyk, member of the management board of HB Reavis Investments Poland.

Magnicity already has five locations in iconic locations in the heart of the world's major cities. In Paris, Magnicity owns the Paris Montparnasse Observatory, located at the top of the eponymous tower since 1974; in Berlin, Magnicity has operated the Berliner Fernsehturm (TV Tower) since 1993; In Chicago, Magnicity has owned and operated the 360 Chicago Observation Deck since 2012; In Rotterdam, Magnicity has a double presence, with the acquisition of the Euromast tower in 2020 and then with the operation of the top of the Zalmhaven I tower since 2024.