Frankfurt’s landmark office tower gets a 40% greener facade—without closing its doors

No demolition, no downtime—just a 40% drop in emissions. This Frankfurt office tower’s clever retrofit proves green upgrades don’t have to disrupt business or break the bank.

, and Administrator

2026 January 13 . 9:09 PM

1 min read

The image shows a large building with many windows in the middle of a city, surrounded by street... — The image shows a large building with many windows in the middle of a city, surrounded by street poles, street lights, electric poles, electric cables, motor vehicles on the road, bushes, trees and a sky with clouds in the background. This building is the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany.

Frankfurt’s landmark office tower gets a 40% greener facade—without closing its doors

A 12-storey office building in Frankfurt’s Westend is undergoing a major facade upgrade. The project at Eschersheimer Landstraße 60–62 aims to cut energy use and emissions by up to 40%. Construction will take place while the building remains fully in use.

HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung GmbH is leading the renovation, focusing on a resource-efficient approach. Instead of replacing the entire aluminium mullion-transom facade, the team will modernise it floor by floor. This method costs roughly half as much as a full replacement while improving sound insulation.

The upgrade includes installing over 500 new window units. Thermal insulation improvements will reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions by 35–40%. The project qualifies for federal funding under Germany’s Efficient Buildings Program (BEG), meeting all required criteria. The renovation serves as a model for future retrofitting projects. By keeping the building operational during construction, it demonstrates how energy upgrades can be carried out without disrupting daily business activities.

The completed modernisation will enhance both the building’s technical performance and its appearance. Tenants will benefit from improved insulation and reduced energy costs. The project also sets a precedent for sustainable facade upgrades in existing office buildings.