Palace of Culture and Science, Skyscraper in Śródmieście, Warsaw, Poland
The Palace of Culture and Science is a 42-floor skyscraper in central Warsaw, Poland, with facades clad in sandstone in the socialist realist style. It stands 237 meters tall and houses theaters, museums, and event spaces spread across multiple levels.
Russian architect Lev Rudnev designed the building in the early 1950s as a gift from the Soviet Union to Poland. Construction ran from May 1952 to July 1955, with thousands of workers taking part in the project.
The building's nickname Pekin comes from the acronym PKiN, and locals also call it patyk ("stick") for its shape. In 1967 The Rolling Stones played the Congress Hall, the first major Western rock group to perform behind the Iron Curtain; Leonard Cohen followed in 1985 during martial law.
The observation deck on the 30th floor is open daily and offers views over the city from about 114 meters (374 feet) above ground. The building has several entrances, and elevators connect the different floors and event areas inside.
The spire's total height of 237 metres was settled during a stunt at the Silesian-Dąbrowa Bridge: an airplane towed a balloon upward while Polish officials shouted "Higher!" after each pass. The observation deck on the 30th floor, at 114 metres, was enclosed in steel bars after a series of jumps in 1956.
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