City-Hochhaus Leipzig

City-Hochhaus Leipzig

City-Hochhaus is a tall 36-story skyscraper in Germany. It stands at 142.5 meters (468 feet) and is the tallest building in Leipzig. It is located next to the inner city ring road in the Mitte district. The tower was designed by architect Hermann Henselmann to look like an open book. It was built between 1968 and 1972. The design was inspired by other famous towers such as the Jen-Tower in Jena and the Fernsehturm in Berlin.

Originally, the building was part of the University of Leipzig campus at Augustusplatz. Later, it was sold by the state government of Saxony. It is now owned by the U.S. investment bank Merrill Lynch. Between 1999 and 2002, the building was renovated, and its old aluminum covering was replaced with grey granite. Today, the offices are used by private companies. These include the public broadcaster MDR, the European Energy Exchange, and a restaurant named 'Panorama'. There is also a viewing platform on the roof.

Locals have nicknamed the building Weisheitszahn, meaning "wisdom tooth," because of its shape. It is also called Uniriese, meaning "university giant," after its original purpose. The skyline of Leipzig is marked by the tall City-Hochhaus, making it a well-known part of the city's appearance.

Panorama

Because of its height and central location, the building offers a great view of the whole city. Since 1972, there has been a café called Panorama Café on the 26th and 27th floors, but it closed in 1991. In 2002, after the building was renovated, a new restaurant opened and is now called "Plate of Art". In 2007, it was redesigned by architects Rüdiger Renno and designer Till Brömme.

From the restaurant, a staircase leads to an open viewing platform on the 31st floor. At a height of 120 m (390 ft), you can see the city center and areas far beyond Leipzig. On clear days, you can spot Fichtelberg, Auersberg, Kulpenberg, Wurmberg, Brocken, Viktorshöhe, and some peaks in the Ore Mountains and the Czech Republic. The platform is a favorite spot for tourists.