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The DC Towers, also known as the Donau City Towers, is a mixed-use skyscraper complex in the Donaustadt District of Vienna, Austria. The towers were designed by French architect Dominique Perrault.[1] Werner Sobek AG was responsible for the structural engineering as well as the facade and height access planning of DC Tower 1.[2]

Key Information

DC Tower 1, the tallest skyscraper in Austria at 220 metres (720 ft) or 250 metres (820 ft) including the antenna spire,[3] was officially finished with an opening ceremony on 26 February 2014 attended by architect Perrault and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin.[4] Due to the 2008 financial crisis, ground breaking was delayed several times. Eventually, construction was started on 17 June 2010.[5]

As of June 2012, tenants were confirmed for 50 percent of the floor space according to the owner Wiener Entwicklungsgesellschaft für den Donauraum. Most of the available floor space will be used for offices. Baxter International has been confirmed as one of the largest tenants.[citation needed] The upper floors will be used for apartments, while the first 15 floors will house a four-star hotel operated by the Spanish Sol Meliá Group. There will also be a restaurant in one of the top floors.[citation needed]

DC Tower 2 will reach 180 m (590 ft), making it Vienna's fourth-tallest building.[6] It will house offices, shops and rental flats.

History

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Concept

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Panorama of Donau City before construction begins with the vacant plot in the foreground

The first development concepts for the site in Donau City were already in place in the early 1990s, but they were all rejected. In 2002, the WED (Vienna Development Company for the Danube Region AG) then announced an international design competition for this last section to be developed. The architect Dominique Perrault from Paris was awarded the contract in this expert review process. He was then commissioned to draw up a master plan for the area. Based on these plans, an urban development concept was drawn up and approved by the local council on 1 July 2004. In contrast to previous projects at the site, mixed use was prescribed here. Until a rezoning to 220 m (720 ft) in 2007, the maximum height of buildings on the site was 120 m (390 ft). This value refers to the construction height with the antenna being excluded.

The vacant plot of land, located directly on the Reichsbrücke, was a prime urban development site; the prominent location at the entrance to Donau City required special utilization. A "landmark" that could be seen from far away was to be created. There were 120 different designs before the final concept was developed. Perrault designed two double towers as a "bridgehead" as a built entrance gate for the district. The design of the third tower was by the Vorarlberg office of Dietrich Untertrifaller Architekten.[7][8]

The project was originally scheduled to start in 2007, but construction was delayed several times.[9]

Construction phases

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The towers, designed by Perrault, are being built in collaboration with the Viennese firm Hoffmann-Janz Architekten. The civil engineering was carried out by Porr and the structural work by Max Bögl. A total of around 100,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel were used. The total weight of the tower is 290,000 tonnes.[citation needed]

2010

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Construction progress in September 2010 ...

The first activities on the then vacant site were already visible at the end of February 2010. The laying of the foundation stone and the start of construction finally followed on 17 June 2010.[10] In November, the first pile drilling began and the first permanently mounted construction crane was used. In December, construction of the foundation was already in full swing. The settlement behavior in view of the location directly next to the overlay of the Danube bank motorway A22 and the proximity to the Danube required a special deep foundation. Under the base plate, which is 4 m (13 ft) thick in its core, diaphragm wall piles extend a further 35 m (115 ft) into the building ground. In the area of the base plate alone, 13,000 cubic meters of concrete were installed (this corresponds to the load of 1,625 concrete mixer trucks). The civil engineering work was completed in 6 months.[11][12]

2011

[edit]
... April 2011 ...

The most progress was visible in 2011. Construction began at the end of March 2011, and the first underground floors were completed at the beginning of April. At the end of April, the first above-ground floor was built and the concrete core took on visible dimensions. There were now five fixed construction cranes in operation. At the beginning of June, the first fixed roof crane was assembled and the movable weather protection was attached. By July, the DC Tower 1 under construction could already be seen from every tall building in Vienna. In the same month, the crane on the left outside of the tower that grows with it was attached to the building, and the first freight elevator was installed on the west side of the tower. In August 2011, the concrete core disappeared into the growing building and the 13th floor was completed. Work also began on raising the glass facade on the west, north and south sides.[13]

In September, construction of the glass facade on the east side of the building began. Since then, the facade has been raised on all four sides of the tower to provide protection from wind and weather, but there was hardly any progress in the construction. This was due to the outrigger floors, which are intended to ensure the stability of the building. These were completed at the end of November, but the expected opening date was postponed from the beginning of 2013 to summer 2013 at the earliest.[14]

2012–2013

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... and November 2012 after reaching the final height

From spring 2012, the tower started growing again. Roughly every 5 days, the tower grew by one floor. At the end of April 2012, work was started on the 32nd floor, which marks about half of the final construction height. On 25 October of the same year, the 60th and final floor was reached.[15] According to WED, work was carried out six days a week. In late summer 2013, the last facade elements were being assembled. The two construction cranes that were still in use on the tower at the time were gradually dismantled. They had previously grown with the building over the entire construction period. One was attached to the outside of the supporting structure, the other was placed in one of the elevator shafts.[16][17] On 19 September 2013, the approximately 30 m (98 ft) tall antenna was finally brought into position using a special helicopter from Heliswiss. The building was thus completed externally.[18]

Tower 1 opening

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The official opening ceremony of the hotel and tower took place on 26 February 2014. Guests of honor included architect Perrault, Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin.[19]

Tower 2

[edit]

The DC Tower 2 is planned to reach 175 m (574 ft) tall. The significant difference in height between the buildings is also reflected in the different letters of "DC" in the construction project's logo. However, the start of construction was delayed several times, not least due to the 2008 financial crisis. In the spring of 2016, the building site for Tower 2 was sold to a German real estate fund.[20][21]

In March 2018, it was announced that the Vienna-based S+B Group had signed a general contractor contract for the second Donau City Tower with the owner of the property, the German company Commerz Real. The planned start of construction in 2019 was not met. In 2020, it was announced that Tower 2 would no longer follow the design of Tower 1. The reason given was that due to the proportion of apartments instead of almost exclusively offices as in Tower 1 as open spaces were desired and these would not be compatible with the wave design.[22]

Construction began in 2022 and the development company expects completion in 2026.[23]

Tower 3

[edit]
Main article: DC Tower 3

The complex shares its area with the DC Tower 3, a residential serviced apartments regimed building constructed between 2019 and 2022.[24]

Layout

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Development and security

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The access logic on the ground follows the Donau-City concept: pedestrian and traffic levels are on different levels. The main access to the complex is via the central roundabout of Donau City on the Donau-City-Straße named after it. The address is 1220 Vienna, Donau-City-Straße 7 . Tenants of Tower 1 can drive directly into the garage from this level, visitors and taxis are directed up to the access level -1. For better orientation, this was designed as an open space. This is where the hotel access and the entrance to the public underground car park are located. It has space for 354 vehicles. Deliveries and disposal take place via the central loading yard, which is also located on this level and is connected to the service elevators. The higher pedestrian level can also be reached via open stairs. There are separate entrances for the different user groups on this level.

The tower's security concept provides for the separation of the individual visitor flows, which is facilitated by the Donau City, which is laid out on different levels. The building is divided into individual security areas, in which the movement flows as well as the entrances and exits are controlled and monitored. In the reception areas, separation systems and in the elevators, intelligent control technology prevent the mixing of user groups. The distribution of people within the building is carried out via 29 elevators and two escalators. Two elevators are designed as full-fledged freight and fire service elevators with a nominal load of up to 2,500 kg. The DC Tower currently has the fastest elevators in Austria. At up to 8 m/s (around 29 km/h), the highest floor can be reached in 40 seconds.[25]

The public areas and hotel floors are accessed separately by four fully glazed elevators. However, a cantilevered spiral staircase is also installed in the base building. The main elevators in the tower are equipped with a destination selection system, where the destination floor is selected before entering the cabin. The system then directs the user to an elevator, thus enabling shorter waiting times and fewer stops. In the DC Tower, this system has been expanded so that the access controls are also connected to the elevator control. This means that the next elevator is assigned as soon as the passengers pass through the security gates.[26]

Usage

[edit]

Since the beginning of 2014, the five-star Meliá Vienna hotel of the Spanish chain Meliá Hotels International has been located on the lower 15 floors of Tower 1, with 253 rooms and 1,079 m2 of event space. The hotel also has restaurants on the 57th and 58th floors.[15] The second floor also houses a 1,700 m2 fitness club with a wellness area and indoor pool. Most of the remaining floors are rented out as office space. Baxter International was announced as the first major tenant in 2011.[27] The Austrian subsidiary of Astellas Pharma moved into the tower at the beginning of 2015.[28] Other office tenants include voestalpine, the auditing firm PwC Austria, the IBM Client Innovation Center Austria, and CRRC ZELC, a subsidiary of the Chinese rail vehicle manufacturer CRRC, which has established its European headquarters here.[29] On level 58 there is a terrace at a height of 207 m (679 ft). The part facing the city centre is run by the bar located here, the second half was accessible as a paid viewing platform (sky terrace) until the end of 2016.[30] Since October 2014, ORS has also been using the 245-metre antenna to broadcast television programmes.[31]

  • Floors 1–15: Hotel Meliá Vienna, restaurants Flow and Ra'mien go
  • Floor 2: John Harris Fitness Club[32]
  • Floors 16–17: Building services[33]
  • Floors 18–42: Offices[33]
  • Floors 43–44: Building services[33]
  • Floors 45–56: Offices[34]
  • Floor 57: 57 Lounge and 57 Restaurant
  • Floor 58: 57 Lounge, outdoor terrace[33]
  • Floors 59–60: Building services

Tower 2 will have restaurants and co-working spaces in the base area, offices up to the 30th floor, and apartments on the remaining floors.

Tower 3, just northeast of the other two towers, is used entirely as a student residence.

Ownership

[edit]

The owner of the site of Tower 1 and responsible for the overall development is WED Wiener Entwicklungsgesellschaft für den Donauraum, which emerged from Expo AG in 1991. The builder and owner was VIENNA DC Tower 1 Liegenschaftsbesitz GmbH, which was initially a company of the WED Group, but was sold to the German Deka Immobilien in July 2017. The sales price was not announced; the investment volume for Tower 1 was originally 300 million euros.[35] The properties in the tower are marketed by bareal Immobilientreuhand GmbH. In September 2016, over 90 percent of the space had been allocated.[36][37] The building site for Tower 2 was sold to Commerz Real 's real estate fund hausInvest in spring 2016 ; the purchase price was also kept confidential.[38] The neighboring property of DC Tower 3 is also owned by the German real estate fund.[39] However, the land adjacent to the buildings on the banks of the Danube is owned by the City of Vienna, was previously leased and has been under renovation since 2018.[40][41][42]

Architecture

[edit]
Panorama of Donau City with the DC Tower 1

The DC Tower 1 is the tallest skyscraper in Austria, but the tallest building in the country is still the nearby Donauturm. It is 2 m (6 ft 7 in) taller than the DC Tower 1. The large ratio of the height to the narrow width of the narrow side makes the tower one of the slenderest skyscrapers in the world. Measured from the ground, the tower is 260 m (850 ft) tall.

Volumetries

[edit]
View from the Reichsbrücke
Reflection of the sky on the facade

"The primary aim of the planning was not to set new height records, but to create a well-designed building that impresses with its sophisticated design and high quality. The height of the tower results from the ambition to preserve the attractive aesthetics of a slim tower when building the planned cubic dimensions."

Architect Dominique Perrault on the DC Towers concept.[43]

The shape was born from the idea of a monolith broken in the middle. This "jagged stone" is recognizable by the wave-like structure on the southeast side, but was only to receive its negative form with Tower 2 and thus come into its own spatially and visually. Due to changed requirements, Tower 2 will not follow the design of Tower 1, so the planned design will not be completed. The two towers will then form a "city gate", with the two halves facing the Danube and standing at a slight angle to each other. The space that will develop between them is crucial for Perrault. Identity and urban space can only be created with several towers. Standing alone, DC Tower 1 is only a good solitaire. Dominique Perrault wanted to build a uniform volume of glass and not a supporting structure with four curtain walls. The black color and the reflections of the surroundings help to take away the tower's texture and weaken the two-dimensional image. The floors that can be read from the outside should recede into the background. The "liquid facade" is modelled on the Danube, as proximity to the water is essential for the architect. It represents great potential for Donau City, but is currently not being properly exploited.[44] The associated stylistic element of the differently offset "waves" is therefore not only found on the outer skin; it also appears repeatedly inside, for example in the hotel rooms.[45]

The glass façade consists of 32,000 m2 of solar protection insulating glass and was manufactured in Austria. Of these, 10,000 m2 of glass surfaces were screen printed; also to reduce the risk of bird strikes.[46]

The flowing and immaterial character that the exterior reflects was interpreted in the opposite way in the interior. Here, the rooms were to be very present and physically perceptible. In the halls and corridors that are open to the public, for example, the full-surface natural stone surfaces underline the robust aesthetic. The lift lobbies were designed with metal panels, which radiate a warmth that is not typical of the material due to their differently treated surfaces.[47] The public hotel areas in the base building are connected by a "floating" spiral staircase, the stairwell of which simultaneously forms an atrium that tapers towards the top and provides a view of the tower. Its round steps are covered with white Bianco Sivec marble from Macedonia and are tapered at the sides.[48]

Structure

[edit]

In addition to a detailed study of the subsoil, the key parameters and basis for the structural design were the susceptibility to wind, both towards the tower and from it. As a result, a model of the tower and its surroundings was built to examine it in the wind tunnel. With regard to the downdrafts that occur in Donau City, the wind comfort in the area close to the ground was also to be optimized. The results of the investigations were slight adaptations to the building and the positioning of umbrella-like structures around the tower. These provide additional protection against sunlight and falling objects.[49]

The reinforced concrete structure is elastic. At the height of the 58th floor, the tower can sway by up to 45 centimeters, and at the top of the antenna by up to one meter. In order to reduce the movement below the limit of perception and to increase user comfort, a vibration absorber in the form of a 305-ton mass pendulum was installed between the 56th and 60th floors. It consists of steel plates and a 54 m3 water tank, which ensures the supply of the wall hydrant system in an emergency. The pendulum hangs at the four corner points on two 16 m long steel cables. It is guided by rails, so it swings in defined paths and is coordinated with the slender side of the building. The pendulum always moves in the opposite direction to the natural vibration of the tower. The length of the cable can be variably adjusted to the final natural frequency. However, this only occurred some time after completion, since a newly built structure is initially relatively stiff and only becomes more elastic over time.[50][51]

So-called outriggers are installed in the building services floors on levels 16/17 and 43/44, which give the DC Tower more stability. Two-meter-thick reinforced concrete ceilings connect the core with the load-bearing external columns and improve the rigidity of the load-bearing system. The outrigger floors are each twice as high as a standard floor, reserved for building services systems and can only be seen from the outside by the grilled air inlet openings in the facade. The outrigger construction as such is not recognizable, however. The cantilevered bay windows on the wave-like southeast side are supported by steel profiles subjected to tension or compression.[52]

Environment and services

[edit]

As one of the first Austrian high-rise buildings, the DC Tower 1 was built and equipped according to the energy and sustainability requirements of the EU Commission for a "Green Building" certificate and according to the US LEED system.[53] In January 2015, the tower was awarded the highest quality level, platinum status . During the certification process, 82 out of 110 possible points were achieved.[54]

The assessment takes into account parameters such as sustainable site quality, savings in drinking water consumption, optimized energy consumption, sustainable and resource-saving use of materials, but also comfort and user satisfaction in the workplace. Building energy is reduced by photovoltaic systems and energy-feeding elevators. The tower is powered by green electricity . In the underground car park, alternatively powered cars have the opportunity to "refuel" with the electricity generated by the building.[55]

Rainwater management means that rainwater that falls on the built-up areas is left in the natural water cycle or is used further and is not fed into the sewers. To avoid excessive energy losses of heat or cold, a grid structure is incorporated into every second window. As is usual in modern high-rise buildings, individual (narrow) windows can be opened completely. A perforated sheet is placed in front of them for protection. A concrete core temperature control system was installed in the tower over an area of 22,900 m2. This system uses the mass of the concrete as a heat storage device and enables the resource-saving cooling of the office floors in summer and their heating in winter. Due to the low operating temperature, this system is energy efficient.[56]

The air conditioning systems use a two-stage heat recovery system. The tower's heating requirement is 27.41 kWh/m2.a. In the event of a power failure, there is a 2,000 hp diesel generator. On the roof there is a rail-mounted facade maintenance system, consisting of two cranes, each weighing 30 tons. These maneuver the gondolas used to clean and maintain the glass facade. A complete cleaning of the facade takes around a month. The building services and security systems are monitored from the control center on the 2nd floor. A total of four floors, two each in the lower (floors 16/17) and upper (floors 43/44) areas of the tower, are reserved exclusively for building services systems. The upper technical floor also contains Vienna's highest transformer station of the Wiener Netze . From the outside, these floors can only be recognized by the grilled air supply openings in the facade.[57]

See also

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Further reading

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

DC Towers

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The DC Towers, also known as the Donau City Towers, form a prominent mixed-use skyscraper complex in Vienna's Donaustadt district, along the northern bank of the River in the urban development area. Designed by French architect , the complex comprises two asymmetrical towers that conclude the decades-long expansion of into a modern business and residential hub. The taller DC Tower 1, completed in 2013, rises to an architectural height of 220 meters across 60 floors, establishing it as Austria's tallest building, with a extending the total height to 250 meters. DC Tower 2, currently under construction with an anticipated completion in 2026, stands at 175 meters over 53 floors. DC Tower 1 houses approximately 75,000 square meters of premium for up to 7,000 employees, alongside the 254-room Meliá hotel, 16 luxury apartments, a high-end on the 57th floor, and a rooftop bar on the 58th floor offering panoramic views of the city. The structure incorporates advanced engineering features, including a 350-tonne on the upper floors for seismic stability, Platinum certification for sustainability, and a crystalline facade that reflects the surrounding . DC Tower 2 will provide 62,000 square meters of usable area, including 30 floors, 314 rental apartments, retail spaces, and , connected via public plazas to enhance urban connectivity. The complex's design emphasizes environmental integration, with wrap-around loggias for natural ventilation and proximity to networks like the U1 metro line. As a of contemporary , the DC Towers symbolize the city's evolution into a European center, fostering innovation through high-tech amenities like smart building systems and wellness-focused workspaces while adhering to stringent and energy-efficient standards. The project, developed by the Vienna Economic Development Corporation (WED), has transformed the former industrial riverside into a vibrant quarter near the , blending residential, commercial, and leisure functions.

Overview

Location and context

The DC Towers complex is situated in Vienna's district, a modern business and residential area developed along the northern bank of the River as part of the city's strategic urban expansion in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Originally a flood-prone former site transformed after the Danube's regulation in the 1870s and further flood protections in the 1970s, emerged in the following the cancellation of the planned Vienna-Budapest Expo, with the area repurposed for high-density development. The district, encompassing approximately 17.4 hectares, features a mix of offices, hotels, apartments, and public spaces, connected by the covered A22 motorway tunnel completed in 1996 and excellent public transport links, including the U1 subway line. The specific location of the DC Towers is at Donau-City-Straße 7 in the 1220 postal district (), north of the , adjacent to the Kagran neighborhood and the Kagraner Platz U1 subway station, with geographic coordinates 48°13′54″N 16°24′53″E. This positioning integrates the complex into Donau City's master plan, initiated by the Wiener Entwicklungsgesellschaft für den Donauraum AG (WED AG), founded in 1991 from the former Expo AG, which handled initial zoning and land preparation by removing 965,000 tons of waste and establishing development guidelines in the early 2000s. Vienna's historically restrictive high-rise policies, aimed at preserving the city's low skyline and historic views, were updated through a new high-rise concept around 2007, which designated specific zones like for taller structures provided they met criteria for access, ecological standards, and architectural integration. This policy shift enabled the DC Towers project, transforming 's skyline and establishing Tower 1 as Austria's tallest structure at 250 meters.

Composition and key features

The DC Towers complex in will consist of three distinct high-rise buildings, each contributing to a along the River, with DC Tower 2 currently under construction and anticipated for completion in 2026. Tower 1 stands at 250 meters tall, including a , and comprises 60 floors above ground, primarily dedicated to office spaces, a , and retail areas. Tower 2 reaches 175 meters in with 53 floors, featuring a base for commercial uses, mid-level offices, and upper residential apartments. Tower 3, the shortest at 110 meters and completed in 2022, includes 34 floors focused on serviced apartments, with a three-story base integrating public amenities. Key features enhance the functionality and innovation of each tower. In Tower 1, a 350-tonne pendulum mitigates wind-induced vibrations for occupant comfort, while amenities include a fitness center with an indoor pool and a rooftop offering panoramic views. Tower 2 incorporates Europe's first integrated photovoltaic facade system, generating across its surface, complemented by wrap-around loggias on residential floors that provide sheltered outdoor spaces. Tower 3 features an aluminum-clad facade with protruding elements that form cozy wooden alcoves inside apartments, alongside a green atrium in the base for communal and landscaped interaction. The overall complex spans approximately 116,000 square meters of office space across Towers 1 and 2, with Tower 3 adding 832 serviced apartments designed for students and young professionals, and mixed-use elements like retail and co-working areas throughout. A unique highlight is the DC Nexus, an interactive light installation in Tower 1's lobby that engages visitors with dynamic, color-coded patterns representing the building's brand values; it received the German Design Award 2025 for its innovative design. Towers 1 and 2 were designed by Architecture, while Tower 3 was created by Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten.

History

Planning and concept

The development of the DC Towers originated in the early as part of the broader master plan for , Vienna's planned second urban center on the 's left bank, following the cancellation of the EXPO 1995 project and the establishment of the Vienna Region Development Corporation (WED AG) in 1991. The site, previously flood-prone and used for landfills, was prepared through extensive excavation and works, envisioning a mixed-use district to serve as an economic engine with offices, residences, and leisure facilities layered across pedestrian, vehicular, and subterranean levels. In 2002, WED AG organized an international design competition for the remaining undeveloped third of Donau City's core area, which was won by French architect Dominique Perrault of Dominique Perrault Architectes, who proposed the twin towers as a symbolic "bridgehead" gateway to the district. The initial concept emphasized high-rise structures to create a landmark business district, integrating offices, hotels, and apartments while harmonizing with the Danube's geography and Vienna's imperial skyline. The project's scale was enabled by revisions to the original zoning, which lifted the height limit from 120 meters in 2007, allowing Tower 1 to reach 220 meters (250 meters including spire) and Tower 2 up to 175 meters, as part of Perrault's updated master plan that retroactively unified the district's vertical development. Key stakeholders included WED AG, with support from major investors such as Wiener Städtische Versicherung through its shareholding, with city approvals finalizing the rezoned framework by 2009 to advance the towers' mixed-use program. A conceptual shift occurred in 2016 with the addition of Tower 3, designed by Austrian firm Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten to address the growing need for housing in , providing 832 affordable apartments for temporary living on a narrow, previously underutilized site between existing structures and infrastructure. This addition complemented the original towers by introducing a slimmer, 100-meter profile focused on communal facilities like fitness areas and roof terraces, enhancing Donau City's residential diversity without altering the business-oriented core.

Construction of Tower 1

Construction of DC Tower 1 began with the groundbreaking ceremony on 17 June 2010, marking the start of foundation work for the 220-meter-tall structure in Vienna's Donau-City district. The project faced initial delays due to the global financial crisis of , which postponed the commencement of building activities several times before acceleration resumed in 2010. Designed by French , the tower's construction employed advanced formwork systems from to support the efficient erection of its core and structure. The phased timeline progressed with foundation completion in 2010, followed by the core rise from 2011 to 2012, culminating in the of the 60-floor concrete structure on 25 October 2012. By January 2013, the tower had reached its full architectural height of 220 meters, with ongoing work focusing on the facade and interior fit-out. A key engineering milestone was the installation of a 350-tonne in a vertical shaft near the top, designed to mitigate wind-induced vibrations and ensure occupant comfort in the slender high-rise. The total construction cost for Tower 1 amounted to approximately €300 million. External works concluded with the placement of the 30-meter antenna spire on 19 September 2013, bringing the total height to 250 meters and finalizing the structural envelope. The tower was officially opened on 26 February 2014 in a ceremony attended by city officials, marking the completion of this landmark project after about three and a half years of active building.

Development of Towers 2 and 3

The development of Towers 2 and 3 expanded the DC Towers complex in Vienna's district, building on the success of Tower 1 by introducing mixed-use residential and office spaces with enhanced features. Tower 3's phase spanned from 2016 to 2019, with commencing in 2019 under the design of Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten and completing in 2022. The 109.4-meter structure, featuring 34 floors and 832 serviced apartments for students and young professionals, employed modular techniques, including prefabricated window alcoves and aluminum-clad facade elements assembled on-site to optimize efficiency amid challenging ground conditions. The tower reached in late 2021, followed by final fit-out, enabling full occupancy by early 2022. In recognition of its innovative residential design, Tower 3 received the CTBUH Award of Excellence for Best Tall Building (100-199 meters) in 2023. Tower 2 underwent design revisions in the early 2020s, particularly around 2021, to prioritize at the recommendation of the City of , diverging from its original twin-tower concept to incorporate advanced energy-efficient elements. began in the first quarter of 2022, with S+B Gruppe handling the foundational works, including deep foundation elements optimized to reduce usage by approximately 40%. As of November 2025, the 175-meter tower has achieved structural completion across its 53 floors, with installation of the innovative photovoltaic-integrated solar facade underway; this marks the first such full-scale application in a European high-rise, enabling generation across the entire exterior surface. Expected completion remains set for 2026, providing 62,000 square meters of usable area including offices, retail, and 314 rental apartments.

Design and architecture

Overall design principles

The DC Towers complex in Vienna embodies a unified yet architecturally diverse vision that emphasizes verticality and contextual integration within the city's evolving skyline. For Towers 1 and 2, French architect conceived the structures as a "split monolith," where the taller Tower 1 (250 meters, comprising a 220-meter core and 30-meter ) and the shorter Tower 2 (175 meters) frame a central public piazza, creating a dynamic urban gateway to the district. This design draws on modernist high-rise principles prevalent in post-2000 European urbanism, balancing the towers' imposing heights against Vienna's traditional low-rise fabric by evoking the fluidity of the adjacent River through undulating, crystalline facades composed of folded glass planes and steel elements. The original concept for Tower 2 specified a height of 160 meters, but it was revised to 175 meters during development. The facades' twisted, multifaceted surfaces—resembling shattered crystal—capture and reflect light dynamically, producing a shimmering effect that adapts to daily and seasonal changes, thereby enhancing the towers' role as luminous landmarks visible from the historic center. As Perrault noted, "While one face of the tower refers to the broken monolith, it is also meant to be a liquid façade evoking the surface of the river," underscoring the intentional harmony with the 's environmental presence. Complementing Perrault's contributions, Tower 3 (109 meters) by Austrian firm Dietrich | Untertrifaller adopts a narrower, vertically accentuated form to slot into the constrained site between the existing towers and transport infrastructure, fostering a cohesive ensemble without overpowering the composition. The design prioritizes seamless urban integration through multi-level connections, including extensions of the Carl Auböck Promenade, pedestrian bridges over rail lines, and public plazas with seating steps that link the tower to the broader fabric and nearby networks. Its aluminum-clad facade features three-dimensionally warped triangular protrusions that create volumetric depth, transitioning inward to wooden alcoves that frame panoramic views of the and Vienna's skyline, thus reinforcing a sense of environmental dialogue and resident engagement. This approach echoes Perrault's volumetric play while emphasizing subtlety, as the alcoves "frame the view of the and the city in every room," per the architects' description. Across the three towers, shared design themes promote a harmonious interplay with the Danube's riparian context and Vienna's urban legacy, positioning the complex as a modern landmark that respects the city's historic silhouette. The volumetric contrasts—Perrault's bold, unequal heights juxtaposed with Untertrifaller's slender profile—generate a sense of movement and scale, influenced by early 21st-century trends in sustainable high-rise that prioritize public accessibility and environmental responsiveness over sheer monumentality. This conceptual framework not only defines the towers' aesthetic identity but also ensures their enduring status as catalysts for Donau City's development as a vibrant, river-oriented hub.

Structural engineering

The structural system of DC Tower 1 and DC Tower 2 employs a core-and-outrigger configuration to ensure lateral stability against wind and seismic loads. This consists of a central core connected to perimeter columns via 2-meter-thick outrigger slabs, which distribute horizontal forces efficiently across the building height. The foundations for both towers utilize deep piling systems adapted to the site's proximity to the River, featuring continuous flight auger (CFA) piles and diaphragm walls extending up to 30 meters into the underlying gravel layers for load-bearing capacity and groundwater management. DC Tower 1 incorporates a 350-tonne installed at the top in a vertical shaft to mitigate -induced sway and enhance occupant comfort by counteracting oscillations. The structure is also designed to withstand seismic forces through ductile detailing in and outriggers, absorbing energy without structural damage. DC Towers 2 and 3 adopt hybrid - framing systems, combining the of with the tensile capacity of for optimized load paths in their respective heights of 175 meters and 109 meters. Tower 2 features wrap-around loggias on residential floors that serve as aerodynamic buffers to reduce loads on the facade. Tower 3 utilizes prefabricated modular elements, including alcove units, for efficient assembly of its 34 floors. Construction materials emphasize durability and performance, with high-strength (up to C50/60 grade) used in cores and slabs, alongside approximately 18,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel per tower for enhanced tensile reinforcement. The facades incorporate glazing with low-emissivity (low-E) coatings to support structural integrity while minimizing thermal bridging.

Sustainability features

The DC Towers complex incorporates various features designed to minimize environmental impact and promote energy efficiency across its structures. Tower 1, the tallest in the complex at 250 meters, achieved certification from the U.S. Council in 2015, recognizing its high performance in sustainable site development, , and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor , and . This certification highlights the tower's use of energy-efficient LED lighting in common areas, which contributes to reduced overall . Tower 2 emphasizes innovative integration through its facade, featuring Europe's first high-rise building with an integrated photovoltaic solar system, allowing the structure to generate electricity from sunlight across its exterior surfaces. This design not only supports on-site power production but also aligns with broader efforts, including green elements like rooftop habitats that host five local bee species to enhance . Tower 3 advances passive design principles with features such as core-activated concrete floors that leverage for natural temperature regulation, reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems. The complex as a whole targets high standards. Additional facilities promote low-carbon mobility with charging stations and extensive bike storage options, supporting post-2025 carbon footprint reduction objectives upon full completion.

Usage and facilities

Tower 1 operations

Tower 1, completed and opened on February 26, 2014, serves as a premier mixed-use primarily dedicated to spaces, , and retail functions in Vienna's Donau-City . The building offers approximately 75,000 of leasable area across its 60 floors, with around 60% allocated to high-quality spaces accommodating over 30 companies and supporting roughly 7,000 employees daily. Notable tenants include the international consulting firm Austria, which has maintained its there since 2018 and extended its lease through 2033, as well as voestalpine High Performance Metals International , which relocated its s to the tower in 2016. These s feature flexible layouts, advanced building technology for climate control and , and seamless integration with the tower's system, which ensures stability during operations. The lower levels house the Meliá Vienna, a five-star occupying floors 4 through 15 with 253 modern rooms and suites, providing panoramic views of the and city skyline. Complementing the are retail outlets at the base, including restaurants and shops, which contribute to the building's vibrant ground-level activity. The tower's retail and hospitality components enhance its role as a business hub, with the offering 1,000 m² of conference and event spaces for meetings and gatherings. Key facilities support efficient daily operations and tenant well-being, including a rooftop on the 58th floor at approximately 250 meters height, accessible for panoramic dining and drinks, and a second-floor fitness center operated by John Harris Fitness, featuring an indoor pool, , and wellness areas. Security is maintained 24/7 with advanced systems, including biometric access controls for restricted areas. By 2023, the tower achieved full occupancy, reflecting sustained demand and operational success into 2025 with rates remaining above 95%. Operations include regular annual events such as corporate branch meetings in the conference facilities and guided technical tours that showcase the —a 350-tonne on the upper floors—for educational and professional groups. Visitor access is permitted to public areas like the retail base, , , and select points, but is restricted above the 20th floor to authorized personnel only, ensuring for tenants.

Tower 2 and 3 functions

Tower 2 is designed as a mixed-use structure emphasizing commercial and residential functions, featuring 30 office floors dedicated to modern workspaces, alongside 314 rental apartments and ground-level retail shops. The office spaces, totaling approximately 52,000 square meters of usable area across the building, are intended to attract innovative businesses, with provisions for flexible layouts that could include co-working areas in the base levels to foster and . The rental apartments occupy the upper floors, providing residential options integrated with the tower's vertical design, while the ground-level shops and outlets aim to activate the street level and support local . Wrap-around loggias on multiple levels enhance the office environments by offering outdoor workspaces, promoting and natural ventilation in line with contemporary trends. Tower 3 serves exclusively as a residential facility, 832 serviced apartments tailored for students and young professionals, with unit sizes ranging from 16 to 46 square meters, each equipped with a , , and small workspace. Unlike the other towers, it contains no commercial office spaces, focusing instead on affordable, temporary living solutions in a high-density urban setting. Communal areas include a wind-protected roof terrace, a green atrium with landscaped function rooms, a fitness and event space, common rooms, and a café with an extensive terrace, all designed to build community and support social interaction among residents. Rents for these apartments start at around €600 per month, inclusive of operating costs and access to shared facilities, positioning the tower as an accessible model in Vienna's competitive market. Both towers integrate seamlessly with the Donau City district's transport infrastructure, connected via public squares and paths to the nearby U1 and other public transit options, ensuring convenient access for occupants and visitors. This connectivity underscores their role in enhancing the area's urban mobility. Looking ahead, Tower 3 is already operational following its 2022 completion, while Tower 2 is slated for full occupancy in 2026, with operations extending into 2027 to realize a synergistic blend of residential and commercial activities that vitalize the skyline.

Ownership and impact

Ownership structure

The DC Towers complex in Vienna's Donau City district features distinct ownership structures for each of its three towers, reflecting their individual development histories and profiles. Tower 1, the tallest at 250 meters, has been owned by Deka Immobilien GmbH since 2017, following its acquisition from the original developer, the WED Group. The original volume for Tower 1 was approximately €300 million. Tower 2, standing at 175 meters and under completion as of 2025, is owned by Commerz Real, which acquired the development rights in 2016 through its open-ended property fund HausInvest. Commerz Real committed around €170 million to the project, partnering with the S+B Gruppe for construction and marketing. Tower 3, a 109-meter residential building completed in 2022, was acquired in 2018 by a between Real Estate Partners and for over €100 million. This tower focuses on student accommodation and serviced apartments, totaling 832 units, and forms part of the broader urban development. Management responsibilities are similarly segmented. For Tower 1, CBRE has handled property management and leasing since 2019, overseeing office spaces that are fully leased as of 2023. The hotel component within Tower 1 is operated by under the Meliá Vienna brand. Tower 2's operations will transition to Commerz Real upon handover in 2026, while Tower 3 is managed by , emphasizing rental housing for students and young professionals. As of November 2025, there have been no reported major ownership changes, sales, or refinancing events for the DC Towers, with the structures remaining stable under their current investors amid ongoing Donau City expansion.

Economic and cultural significance

The DC Towers have significantly contributed to Vienna's economy by fostering growth in the Donau City district, a key business hub along the Danube. The broader Donau City development, including the DC Towers, has involved a total investment of approximately €2 billion, supporting the development of high-end office spaces, hotels, and retail facilities, attracting international firms such as PwC, which extended its lease in the DC Tower 1 until 2033 to underscore long-term commitment to the location. Since the completion of DC Tower 1 in 2013, the complex has bolstered the area's appeal for global businesses, enhancing Vienna's status as a European financial center through mixed-use developments that integrate commercial and hospitality functions. Culturally, the DC Towers serve as an iconic addition to Vienna's skyline, with DC Tower 1 standing as Austria's tallest building at 250 meters, symbolizing the city's transition to modern urban . The towers have been featured in international media, including a 2025 documentary by The B1M highlighting the innovative construction of DC Tower 2 amid challenging site conditions. They host immersive cultural events through installations like the DC Nexus, an interactive light and digital art experience in DC Tower 1 that won the German Design Award 2025 and the Iron A' Design Award in 2025 for its innovative . This enhances Vienna's image as a forward-thinking blending historical heritage with contemporary design. The towers' impacts extend to urban development and , positioning them as a model for high-rise projects across . DC Tower 1 was among the first Austrian office buildings to meet EU green building standards, incorporating energy-efficient features like core-activated floors for thermal regulation. DC Tower 2, slated for completion in 2026, introduces 's first integrated photovoltaic solar facade on a high-rise, further advancing sustainable practices that influence regional policies on eco-friendly urban construction. In 2025, the DC Nexus award highlighted the towers' role in cultural innovation, while public access tours launched in 2024 are projected to draw more tourists upon Tower 2's opening, promoting as a destination for architectural and experiential attractions.

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