The meeting point with the construction manager Stephan Ernst from Drees & Sommer was Gate 1 on Robert-Mayer-Strasse. This is where the construction containers are located, which contain all the necessary functions for smooth construction site operations. It started with the registration: Here the visitors have to register before they are allowed to the construction site. You can’t go on here without an ID. An employee meticulously noted down all the information, then it went to the actual high-rise construction site.

Equipped with construction site helmets and special safety shoes, the two editors of SKYLINE ATLAS and Stephan Ernst finally entered the construction site. Voices, typical construction site noises and construction workers everywhere. It quickly became clear that we were working properly here.

Stephan Ernst is the construction manager responsible for the high-rise project at the construction management company Drees & Sommer. Mr. Ernst then also explained the facts and the state of affairs: We are exactly on schedule and the last two floors of the later 26-storey high-rise office building are currently being built. In about three to four weeks, the shell and steel construction will be finished.

The participants in the site inspection finally went to the construction elevator. As usual with any high-rise construction site, the construction elevator transports people, machines and materials. It went as high as currently possible: to the 23rd floor.

After the roughly two-minute journey, visitors could leave the elevator and switch to the shell. Here you had a good overview of the status of the construction work: While the facade was already being installed on the lower half of the tower, it was airier up here and everything was still open. The construction work could be heard directly above the floor above.

From up here there was a great view of the city: In one direction were the MesseTurm and Westend Gate, in the distance you could see the Frankfurt Exhibition Grounds and City West. On the other side you could see the Westend district.

Stephan Ernst explained the special features during the construction phase: For example, a non-mandatory fire alarm system was installed and an emergency call system at the client’s request. With the emergency call system you can call for help immediately in the event of an incident and the control center knows immediately where to come.

Then the participants of the construction site tour walked onto one of the many platforms that are currently still mounted on the facade. “It’s a magic carpet”, says construction manager Ernst. Construction materials and machines would be delivered via the cranes via these platforms. From the magic carpet, visitors could also see the windshield attached to the top of the building. This is a wind protection so that the work can be carried out at great heights without losing time due to the weather.

The group of visitors was then shown the work on the 24th floor, where the concrete work was still in full swing. “We need around two weeks for one floor,” explained the construction manager. A look into the elevator shafts revealed that the elevators were not yet installed. The elevators would be installed by the manufacturer ThyssenKrupp in the coming months.

Then the participants ran down from the 24th floor towards the ground floor. Construction manager Ernst explained that the outer skin of the high-rise will have a post-and-beam facade. Here, the heat generated directly on the facade would be dissipated directly through openings.

The Senckenberg Turm will later be supplied with energy via the Mainova network. The district heating ensures that the installed heating in the cooling/heating ceilings works smoothly. The cold will later be generated by two cooling machines that will be located on the roof.

During a stopover on the 6th floor, the participants in the high-rise tour saw the large terrace that will later be used exclusively by BNP Parisbas. Further down in the tower, the dry construction work had already progressed and gave an impression of the layout of the future rental space. Senior construction manager Stephan Ernst adds: “In the basement there is not only an underground car park, but also charging stations for electric mobility and a bicycle garage.”

Then the high-rise tour ended in the two-story lobby. The building lobby opens up to the Senckenberganlage and creates a spacious reception area for employees and visitors from all over the world. At the moment, however, there is still a building site feeling there: a thick pipe guides the concrete up to the roof, where the building is still being diligently raised.

A big thank you for visiting the high-rise building goes on behalf of the community to Mr. Ernst of Drees & Sommer and NAS Invest.