IG Farben Building

This office complex in the Westend district is a steel frame structure clad in light Cannstatt travertine, measuring 250 meters (820 feet) long and 35 meters (115 feet) high. Its six wings form a curved layout that reflects the principles of New Objectivity architecture and stands as one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.

The complex was completed in 1931 and remained Europe's largest office building until the 1950s, constructed to accommodate two thousand employees. After World War II, it served as the headquarters for the US Army in Europe before eventually being transferred to Frankfurt University.

Students now gather in hallways once used by corporate executives, and seminar rooms occupy offices where German industry once made decisions. The curved layout and bright facade have become the visual identity for thousands enrolled in humanities programs at Frankfurt University.

The campus is open to the public, though some parts of the building remain restricted to university members. The entrance hall with its bronze panels can be visited on weekdays when general operations are underway.

The original paternoster elevators remain operational, moving continuously between floors without doors or buttons. First-time riders need practice timing their entry and exit as the cabins pass each level.

Location: Frankfurt

Inception: 1930

Architects: Hans Poelzig, Marlene Poelzig

Architectural style: New Objectivity

Floors above the ground: 9

Height: 35 m

Length: 250 m

Made from material: Cannstatt travertine

Part of: Campus Westend

Address: Norbert-Wollheim-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main

Website: http://uni-frankfurt.de/de?

GPS coordinates: 50.12556,8.66750

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24