The former Commerzbank high-rise was erected in 1974 in the heart of Frankfurt's Central Business District. In 1969, Frankfurt architect Richard Heil had the winning design in the competition against six other firms, including Mies van der Rihe. Rising to 110 meters, the building – composed of two slender slabs atop a four-story base – was a pioneering feature of Frankfurt's skyline. Over time, the intersection it anchors has been joined by high-rises on the other three corners – the Taunus Tower, Japan Center, and Omniturm – forming a distinguished ensemble of the cityscape. As part of a comprehensive revitalization, we renovated the listed office tower from the third basement level to the 30th floor, transforming what had become an outdated, inconspicuous structure into the Global Tower, reintroduced in 2022. Originally ahead of its time, the striking tower is now future-ready, offering optimzed spaces for both local and digital work environments, designed for productivity and comfort. 

Global thinking

To better connect the Global Tower with the city, we relocated the main entrance to the building's corner, added a public-use space, and designed a two-story foyer. The auditorium in the prominent adjacent building by Norman Foster is available for use by Global Tower tenants, exemplifying the tower's dialogue with its surroundings. Along the long flank, we retained sufficient space for the entrance and exit of the underground parking garage, carefully incorporated into the existing structure. The office floors on levels 5 through 14 are organized around a central core at the intersection of the two high-rise slabs, offering flexibility to meet tenants needs. From private offices to open-plan layouts, the design accomodates all forms of New Work. One of the key challenges was refurbishing the listed facade. In collaboration with Werner Sobek, we upgraded it to meet modern technical standards while preserving its distinctive, elegant 1970s aesthetic.