Westendstrasse 1
Westendstraße 1 is a 53-storey, skyscraper in the Westend-Süd district of Frankfurt, Germany. The structure was completed in 1993 and together with the nearby City-Haus, forms the headquarters of DZ Bank. In 1995, it won the "Best Building of the Year" award by the American Chamber of Architects in the multifunctional skyscraper category. As of 2023, the tower is the List of [tallest buildings in Frankfurt|third-tallest skyscraper in Frankfurt] and also List of [tallest buildings in Germany|in Germany].
Design
Overview
The building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is similar in style to an older building by the same architects, 1250 René-Lévesque in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The building is a reinforced concrete structure with a perforated façades and flat slabs. Each floor height is around with a floor area of. The façade consists of fine, golden granite, giving it a white and bright appearance from afar. The building was designed by architect William Pedersen. The characteristic ring beam at the top of the tower is intended as a reminder to Frankfurt's history as the city where German emperors were crowned. The crown faces towards the old part of Frankfurt where the coronations were held at the Frankfurt Cathedral. The 95 tonne steel crown is heated in winter to prevent the forming of icicles which could endanger pedestrians or cars on the street below.The design for Moshe Aviv Tower, also called "City Gate" skyscraper in Ramat Gan, Israel, was inspired by the building.