Warsaw Financial Centre
Main data:
Total height: 165 m
Number of floors: 32
Year of construction: 1998
Designers: A. Epstein & Sons International, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Location: ul. Emilii Plater 53
Few years ago, just in the middle of Warsaw, next to the corner of Swietokrzyska and Emilii Plater streets, close to the Palace of Culture of Science, a new skyscraper arose. It changed again the outlook of this part of the city. Before the Second World War that area was very busy and tightly built-up. A few-floors high houses were standing here, shops, banks and offices of different companies were located on their ground floors and flats on higher floors. The climate of big city life could be really felt here. Unfortunately, during Second World War most of the houses in this area, as well as in the most of the city, were destroyed. After the war communistic authorities organised the reconstruction of the centre very rapidly, but in an unreasonable and ugly way. Instead of reconstructing the pre-war, pretty and functional houses, they started to fill the city with dull, grey, concrete blocks. And exactly in the middle the famous Palace of Culture was built. From 1970s the city landscape started to change, newer, more attractive houses started to arise. There were also attempts to decrease the domination of Palace and Culture by building other skyscrapers in its neighbourhood. Construction of Marriott Hotel and Intraco II was part of this project. Also a skyscraper next to the corner of Swietokrzyska and Emilii Plater streets was already planned in 1980s, but finally it was not built until late 1990s.
Warsaw Financial Centre is for sure one of the most modern buildings in Warsaw, and even in the whole Europe. That is because of its modern facilities, which make it safe and functional. Most of them are located on the underground floors of the building, for example, a large generator. Thanks to it WFC is independent on communal power plants, the generator can produce energy for the whole building if necessary. People working in Warsaw Financial Centre can also drink water straight from the tap, without boiling it, because the building has its own water purification station. Also fire protection system is on a very high level. The building has a smoke detectors and in the underground there are 5 water containers, which have approximately 600 thousand litres capacity. On the ground floor a large hall with shops is located. Higher, there are 6 levels with car parks for about 350 cars. On the eight floor building's workers can have a rest. Bar, fitness club, post office, florist and travel agency are located here. And on other floors, from ninth to thirty-second, there are offices. For example companies such as Bank Austria Creditanstalt Co., General Electric International or International Bank for Reconstruction and Development have their offices here. Occupiers can compose their office space freely, because the building has only four pillars. Every office is also air-conditioned and equipped with satellite link and Internet. On the last, thirty-second floor, there is a restaurant with a view of the city. 16 elevators provide fast communication between the floors, the building has also facilities for handicapped.
In contrast to many other buildings that arise nowadays, WFC correspond with surrounding buildings, at least to some extend. The first six-floored part of the building has shape and size similar to neighbouring blocks of flats, especially to those on the other side of Swietokrzyska street. Also the upper part of the building goes well with the city's landscape. The skyscraper rather do not arouse controversy. Its colours are light, pastel, because of that the building looks very nice but do not dazzle. The form of the building is quite innovative, the shape of box is well composed with arc-shaped structure in the upper part. On the top of the building there is a 20-metre-high spire. When installing it, it was necessary to use transport helicopter Mi-8. The top of the spire is on the height of 165 metres above the ground, so WFC is currently fifth highest building in Warsaw (after Palace of Culture, Warsaw Trade Tower, Rondo 1 and Marriott Hotel). If we take under consideration the hight without a spire, WFC will be 144 metres high then.
This impressive building was designed by American companies A. Epstein & Sons International and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. They cooperated also with Polish architects. The building's project was made by plasticine first. The architects were working for long time on modelling it, so that the final result was as appropriate as possible for that part of the city. Main contractor of the building's construction was PORR International AG. Before constructing WFC this company had built in Warsaw Sheraton Hotel, Warsaw University Library and new building for stock exchange. WFC's construction lasted relatively short, from 1997 till 1999. But the design studies were done for much longer, they took several years.
In one of summer seasons on the top of Warsaw Financial Centre a falcons' nest was located. It was put there by ornithologists, who were then observing life of those birds, also by using cameras. Now the falcons have already moved from WFC to the top of Palace of Culture.
More information about the building, especially for those who would like to rent an office here can be found on its official website: www.wfc.pl.
(C) 2001-2010 Maciej Blazejewski