Gallileo is a 38-storey, 136 m (446 ft) skyscraper in the Bahnhofsviertel district of Frankfurt, Germany. It was constructed between 1999 and 2003 and serves as a commercial office building.
Architecture and Design
The building consists of two towers linked by a connecting central core. The north tower rises 136 m (446 ft) with 38 storeys, while the south tower is 114 m (374 ft). The central core runs the full height of the building. The total floor area is approximately 49,000 m² (530,000 sq ft), making it the 26th tallest building in Frankfurt.
The structure was built using a steel-reinforced concrete skeleton and composite steel-concrete construction. It was designed by the architectural firm Novotny Mähner Assoziierte, with Bilfinger Berger SE serving as the main contractor.
Facade
Gallileo features a glass facade composed of approximately 400 individual windows, forming a transparent outer skin of about 22,000 m² (240,000 sq ft). The building incorporates integrated lighting designed by American artist James Turrell, which causes the building to glow from within at night. The lighting elements are not architecturally visible; the undersides of the floor slabs serve as reflective surfaces.
Name
The name "Gallileo" is an intentional misspelling of the scientist Galileo's name. The extra "l" derives from the building's other namesake, the nearby park Gallusanlage, where the building is located (at Gallusanlage 7).
Tenants and History
Along with the nearby Silberturm, Gallileo served as the corporate headquarters of Dresdner Bank from 2008. After Dresdner Bank was taken over by Commerzbank in 2009, the new owner consolidated operations into Gallileo. In 2018, the building was sold to the Singapore-based real estate investor CapitaLand for €356 million, with Commerzbank retaining a long-term lease.
The ground floor houses shops, a bar, and the English Theatre Frankfurt — the only English-speaking theatre in Frankfurt. In 2022, Commerzbank's rent-free sublease contract for the theatre space ended, and after failed negotiations with the new owner, Commerzbank filed an eviction action against the theatre in June 2023.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | Gallusanlage 7, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany |
| Construction start | 2000 |
| Completed | 2003 |
| Cost | US$180 million |
| Owner | CapitaLand |
| Roof height | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Floor count | 38 above ground, 3 below ground |
| Floor area | 57,450 m² (618,400 sq ft) |
| Elevators | 14 |
| Architect | Novotny Mähner Assoziierte |
| Main contractor | Bilfinger Berger SE |
