Varso Place is a complex of three new buildings in the center of Warsaw, the most characteristic element of which is the Varso Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the European Union. The highest and long-term energy efficiency of one of the office buildings included in the investment is ensured, among other things, by SWISSPACER Ultimate warm distance frames.
Top quality and maximum user comfort are the hallmarks of the new real estate complex located directly next to Warsaw's Central Station. As a result, three buildings have already received certificates: BREEAM - with a rating of "outstanding " - and WELL Building Standard. The main Varso Tower, designed by London-based architectural firm Foster+Partners, and the two lower office buildings Varso 1 and Varso 2, designed by Warsaw-based studio HRA Architekci, are among the few buildings in Poland to have received such a high level of energy certification.
Representative architecture in the vicinity of the main railroad station
The elegant architecture of the complex, named Varso Place - derived from the city's Latin name - fits perfectly into the surroundings of Warsaw's inner city. The Varso Tower building has 53 floors and a height of 310 meters to the tip of the spire, making it the tallest building in Poland and one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe. At heights of 205 and 230 meters, there are two public terraces overlooking the Warsaw skyline.
Connected by a common glass lobby, the Varso 1 and Varso 2 buildings form an architectural and functional whole with Varso Tower. Measuring 90 and 81 meters in height, the glass towers rise from a cascading podium with a stone façade that alludes to the neighboring downtown development. Despite their contemporary character, the lower floors are in keeping, both with their dimensions and type of facade, with the 19th-century fabric of the city. Intricately designed windows with glazing located in two planes are placed between large slabs of limestone.
The buildings have already received prestigious certificates: BREEAM - with a rating of "outstanding" - and WELL Building Standard.
©Swisspacer
Revitalization vs. meeting comfort requirements
One of the goals of the project, which is being carried out together with developer HB Reavis, is to revitalize the section of the street opposite Warsaw Central Station. To this end, the space on the first floor level, where restaurants, cafes and stores are envisaged, has been opened to passersby and linked to the station. The main attraction is the plaza in front of the entrance, with a fully glazed lobby. Varso Place offers a total of 144,000 square meters of high-quality office and hotel space.
Another important objective of the project is to provide all users with a high level of comfort, understood as a healthy, energy-efficient and safe working environment. Fulfillment of this goal is confirmed by the investment's obtaining BREEAM and WELL certificates. The WELL Building Standard certificate, awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), like the BREEAM International New Construction rating system, places a very strong emphasis on the health and well-being of building users. Verification of compliance with the requirements in this regard is based on criteria such as lighting and air quality, thermal comfort and the environmental performance of building materials.
Thanks to the careful selection of materials, the Varso Place complex has earned high ratings in both certification systems. With EPD environmental declarations now available, SWISSPACER products will be even better suited for buildings to be certified to WELL and BREEAM standards.
The most distinctive building in the complex is the Varso Tower skyscraper and no less attractive neighboring buildings. All the buildings offer breathtaking views of Warsaw. The view from Varso 1.
© Aluprojekt
Excellent thermal parameters and high aesthetics of glass facades
When designing Varso 1's glass facades, attention was paid to maximizing daylight and thermal comfort at the same time. To meet the design requirements, triple glazing units with Cool-Lite SKN 176 II solar control glass from Saint-Gobain Glassolutions and a SWISSPACER Ultimate spacer were used. The special coating of the highly selective solar control glass provides excellent daylight illumination and neutral color tones when looking outward, effectively absorbing infrared radiation and preventing interior heating.
The SWISSPACER Ultimate spacer has a very low thermal conductivity (lambda value) at the edge of the insulating glass unit. It thus guarantees excellent Psi values and achieves a correspondingly low heat transfer coefficient (U-value) for windows and facades. According to ift guideline WA-17/1 and WA-08/3, SWISSPACER Ultimate is one of the world's best warm spacer bars.
At the stage of verifying the materials for the Varso Place project, technical aspects were supplemented by additional thermal calculations, which were carried out together with the system suppliers, glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain Glassolutions and architects. Aesthetic aspects were also taken into account. The matte black SWISSPACER Ultimate spacer used in the triple glazing unit blends perfectly with the matte finish of the windows. So the decision to choose this component was by all means the right one.
