End of an Era: Warsaw’s Intraco Skyscraper Faces the Wrecking Ball
By [Editor’s Name], Senior Web Editor
Once the pride of the Warsaw skyline and a symbol of 1970s ambition, the Intraco tower is about to meet its modern match — a demolition crew. The iconic skyscraper, a relic of the capital’s vertical aspirations, is slated to be torn down to make room for a sleek, environmentally savvy replacement. Out with the old glass giant, in with something greener, leaner, and more rentable.
The decision comes from Polski Holding Nieruchomości (PHN), who have determined that nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills — especially when a building no longer meets modern energy or safety standards. “It’s not about sentiment,” says PHN Vice President Jacek Krawczykowski. “It’s about business.” Brutal, but fair. After all, it’s hard to feel wistful when tenants are scarce and the carbon footprint is hefty.
While Warsaw residents may mourn the loss of this architectural time capsule — a 1973 wonder equipped with cutting-edge (for the time) air cooling and lightning-fast elevators — PHN is playing the long game. The new building, designed by Arcus studio under the watchful eye of Mariusz Ścisła, will echo Intraco’s silhouette while halving its height from 39 to 23 storeys. Think of it as Intraco’s sleeker, smarter cousin.
And it won’t be just another office block. The new development aims to blend business with pleasure. The ground floor will welcome the public with restaurants, and the top will host a skybar for sunset chasers and cocktail lovers. In between, 33,000 square meters of workspace — with a much-needed floorplate boost from 660 to 1,200 square meters — will offer the kind of open-plan flexibility modern companies demand.
The wrecking ball is set to swing in early 2026. Tenants were politely nudged out by the end of 2023, and the demolition permit application is in the pipeline for autumn this year. The deconstruction will be slow, careful, and as robot-assisted as possible — a farewell befitting a building that once led Warsaw’s race to the sky.
Built on commission from Swedish interests for the Intraco Foreign Trade Company, the tower stood tall on the corner of Stawki and Andersa. Between 1975 and 1978, it was the tallest structure in town. Now, it’s a cautionary tale in concrete and tinted glass: what was once future-proof is now just old news.
So yes, Warsaw is saying goodbye to one of its original skyscrapers — but it’s also saying hello to a building that better fits the times. One that’s ready for open space, green goals, and panoramic drinks with a view. Cheers to that.
