St Martin Tower, Frankfurt

St Martin Tower

Office Ensemble as Urban Building Block

Location

Frankfurt a. M.
Project

New construction of an office tower, base building, and underground parking garage
Client

Hansa Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
Architect of record

Holger Meyer
Project controlling

AIC+ Agentur für Immobilien Management und Consulting plus
Technical building equipment

Brendel Ingenieure AG;
K. Dörflinger Gesellschaft für Elektroplanung mbH & Co. KG
Structural engineering

Ed. Züblin AG, Zentrale Technik, Technisches Büro Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau Stuttgart (TBK-S)
Fire protection

hhp Berlin Ingenieure für Brandschutz GmbH
Landscape architecture

KuBuS Freiraumplanung
Planning and construction period

2008–2015
Service phases

1–5
Gross floor area (AG/BG)

27,000 m²/12,300 m²
Certifications

DGNB Gold
Awards

Martin Elsässer Plakette 2018, BDA Hessen;
German Design Award 2017;
ICONIC AWARDS 2016
Photos

HGEsch
This project is from the joint period of meyerschmitzmorkramer.

In Frankfurt’s City West, the elegant white metal facades of St Martin Tower curve ever so slightly, setting the building in motion against the skyline. The two office buildings – an 18-story slender high-rise (the Tower) and a seven-story structure (the Wing) form a stately ensemble. Set amid landscaped greenery, the complex stands apart from the bustling Katharinenkreisel traffic circle while marking a distinct presence. Nestled between the buildings is a central plaza, a generous welcoming gesture offering valuable open space in the city with green islands and a summer terrace. The structural design and building technology of the ensemble, completed in 2015, prioritize sustainability and resource efficiency, earning it a Gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council. In 2018, the Hessen Chamber of Architects (BDA) recognized the ensemble with the Martin Elsässer Plaque.

Maximum Abstraction

In designing the building envelope, we opted for white lightweight metal elements paired with black-tinted glazing to create a striking contrast and bestow the building with a highly abstract, timeless look. The Tower’s facade employs a consistent rhythm that groups every two floors, accentuating the verticality of the slender structure. Its gently angled form creates intriguing reflections, playing with the grid’s doubled image. The Wing’s facade mirrors the Tower’s design, adapted to its proportions with a single-story grid. The detailed facades contribute to the ensemble’s filigree appearance, allowing it to gracefully integrate into the Frankfurt skyline while maintaining a strong visual identity. A notable technical aspect of the facade is the opening sashes concealed behind the lightweight metal pilaster strips, which provide manual ventilation for the offices.

With Ease

St Martin Tower can accommodate up to three rental units per floor, covering a total area of approximately 1,000 square meters. These versatile units support a wide range of contemporary office layouts – from cellular, combi, and group offices to open-plan spaces and business club concepts. The design maximizes daylight in the office areas and space efficiency. On-demand booking of additional conference areas is also available. The Tower’s narrow front ends are distinctly articulated, creating coveted corner offices and balconies for each floor. Our aim with the high-quality design is to foster a functional and healthy work environment where tenant well-being is paramount. Beyond office space, St Martin Tower offers comprehensive service infrastructure, including a concierge, gym, daycare center, and restaurants.

Project team

Holger Meyer
Thomas Leonhard
Martin Schapfeld
Andrea Bär
Jörg Benning
Paul Gehling
Dirk Müller
Margarethe Openkowski
Miroslawa Openkowski
Carla Silva Ferreira
Clemens Weber
Katja Windecker
Ulrike Zöller