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Swissmill Tower
Swissmill Tower
Swissmill Tower
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The Swissmill Tower, also known as Kornhaus, is the tallest operating grain elevator in the world. Standing at 118 metres (387 ft), it is the second-tallest building in the Swiss city of Zürich.

Key Information

History and description

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The Swissmill Tower is a grain elevator close to Limmatplatz in Zürich. It was built near the Migros Tower, replacing a former grain elevator after the city voted in favor of building a larger silo.[2] The original mill (Kornhaus) was built in 1843 on the same site.

The site required piles built to a depth of 45 metres (148 ft) in the bedrock of the Limmat Valley. The increase of its height to 118 metres (387 ft) was done by slipforming. This required as many as 60 construction workers processing concrete in three shifts around the clock. The construction took place in two stages. The first phase was completed in early July 2015. The second began in September 2015, and end in April 2016.[3] Mill operations continued during construction. The works were carried out by Implenia.[4]

Significance

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At 118 metres (387 ft), the Swissmill Tower is the tallest operating grain elevator in the world. The second tallest, the Schapfen Mill Tower in Ulm, Germany, is 115 metres (377 ft) tall excluding the antenna.[3] The tallest grain elevator ever constructed, the Henninger Turm, stood 120 metres (394 ft) and was demolished in 2013.[5]

The Swissmill Tower can store 40,000 tonnes of grain.[6] Swissmill is the largest mill company in Switzerland, processing 800 tons of grain daily. This represents 30% of the Swiss national grain requirements. It supplies flour for Swiss retailers Coop, Volg and Landi.[3]

Critics have said the silo's exterior and height are overly industrial. However, municipal authorities say that the silo was intentionally designed in that way. Its external appearance is intended to express its interior – an industrial plant.[7]

In July 2016, there was a proposal to cover the tower's exterior with plants, in response to a request by Zürich politicians to redo the facade. Architect Miriam Vázquez suggested this during the planning phase, but later deemed it too expensive.[8]

References

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Swissmill Tower

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from Grokipedia
The Swissmill Tower, also known as Kornhaus, is an industrial silo located in , , functioning as the world's tallest operating . Standing at 118 meters (387 feet) tall with 21 storeys constructed from raw in a neo-brutalist style, it serves as a storage facility capable of holding up to 35,000 tonnes of for the Swissmill milling company. Situated near Escher-Wyss-Platz in the Kreis 5 district, the tower ranks as the second-tallest structure in . Designed by architects Harder Haas Partner AG and owned by Coop Immobilien AG, the current tower was erected between 2013 and 2016, replacing an earlier version on the site to enhance amid urban industrial redevelopment. Its utilitarian form emphasizes functionality over aesthetics, featuring minimal windows and a stark vertical profile that integrates into Zurich's evolving post-industrial landscape while preserving the city's milling heritage.

History

Origins and Initial Construction

The origins of the Swissmill Tower trace back to the establishment of the in 1843 at the site, initially outside the city's boundaries near Lettenbadi and Escher-Wyss-Platz, marking the foundational grain processing operations that evolved into modern Swissmill. This early mill was acquired by the city in 1873 and later managed under private lease before its sale in 1912 to the Verband Schweizerischer Konsumvereine, leading to the commissioning of a modern milling facility in by the Mühlengenossenschaft Schweizerischer Konsumvereine (Coop). Subsequent infrastructure developments included the construction of 24 in 1924 and the Kornhaus ( 57) in 1957, which served as the precursor to the current tower. By the early 2010s, increasing grain storage demands necessitated expansion of the 1957 Kornhaus, originally 40 meters tall, to enhance capacity to 60,000 tons and accommodate annual processing of over 200,000 tons of grain. The project faced public scrutiny, with District 10 rejecting it in a February 2011 referendum, though the broader city approved the initiative. Legal challenges were resolved by September 2012, clearing the way for construction after the dismissal of remaining appeals against the planned height increase to 118 meters. Initial construction began in May 2013, with contracted to oversee the vertical extension of the existing structure, executed in phases to minimize disruption to ongoing milling operations. The work involved reinforcing the base and progressively adding 21 stories of silos, designed by Harder Haas Partner, transforming the facility into the world's tallest operational . This phase concluded with the tower's inauguration in April 2016, solidifying its role in Switzerland's grain under Coop ownership.

Expansion and Modernization (2010s)

In 2010, the city council approved plans to expand the Kornhaus grain silo, operated by Swissmill, to address capacity needs amid the closure of other facilities. The project aimed to heighten the existing 40-meter structure from by approximately 78 meters to reach 118 meters, enabling the storage of up to 35,000 tonnes of and maintaining Swissmill's role in processing 30% of Switzerland's supply for food production. This modernization was necessitated by the need to consolidate operations following the shutdown of a silo in and to replace capacities lost from earlier demolitions. Construction commenced in May 2013 under the management of , with civil engineering support from KIBAG, despite spatial constraints bounded by the River, railway lines, and a busy road. The work proceeded in two phases to minimize disruption, with mill operations continuing throughout: the first phase concluded in early July 2015, and the second ran from September 2015 to April 2016. Designed by Harder Haas Partner in a neo-brutalist style emphasizing exposed , the tower's 21-storey form established it as the world's tallest operating upon completion. The expansion incorporated updated to handle the increased load and seismic demands, resulting in Zurich's second-tallest building and the heaviest structure in the . This project not only modernized grain handling efficiency but also drew architectural acclaim for its utilitarian aesthetic, though it faced initial local opposition due to its stark design and height.

Design and Architecture

Architectural Style and Influences

The Swissmill Tower exemplifies neo-Brutalist architecture, characterized by its stark, monolithic form constructed from raw, exposed concrete, which prioritizes material honesty and functional efficiency over ornamental decoration. Standing at 118 meters with 21 storeys, the tower's design avoids windows on its primary facade to optimize grain storage and handling, reflecting Brutalism's emphasis on utility and structural expression. This style aligns with broader Swiss Brutalist traditions, where heavy concrete masses and geometric rigidity serve industrial purposes without aesthetic concessions. Designed by Harder Haas Partner AG, the structure extends an existing 42-meter silo from the early 20th century, enveloping it within a new concrete shell to reach its record height, demonstrating influences from pragmatic industrial engineering rather than purely stylistic innovation. The form derives from the functional demands of vertical grain silos, where gravity-driven flow necessitates tall, cylindrical or rectangular profiles clad in durable, low-maintenance materials like reinforced concrete to withstand loads and environmental stresses. This adaptive approach echoes mid-20th-century silo designs across Europe, adapted for modern seismic and capacity requirements in Zurich's urban context. Contemporary influences include sustainable integrations, such as a vertical installation—the highest in upon completion—mounted on the facade, blending neo-Brutalist with energy-efficient features without altering the raw aesthetic. These elements position the tower as a modern of Brutalism, informed by ecological imperatives while rooted in the movement's rejection of superficial ornament in favor of honest, purpose-driven form.

Structural and Aesthetic Features

The Swissmill Tower stands at 118 meters (387 feet) tall, making it the second-tallest building in and the world's tallest operating . Its structure consists of , constructed via slipforming to extend an existing 37-meter while maintaining operational continuity. This method involved up to 60 workers processing continuously, resulting in a heavy, robust edifice weighing significantly more than other structures. The design incorporates 21 levels optimized for storage, with a capacity of 35,000 tonnes. Aesthetically, the tower embodies neo-brutalist principles through its exposed raw facade, eschewing decorative elements in favor of functional severity that underscores its industrial purpose. The windowless exterior, save for minimal functional openings, projects a monolithic verticality, serving as a in Zurich's urban landscape. Structurally, seismic analyses ensured resilience against earthquakes, adapting to Zurich's geological conditions with a focus on stability for the tall, mass-loaded form. This prioritized load-bearing efficiency for vertical handling systems integrated throughout the height.

Construction Process

Engineering Challenges

The construction of the Swissmill Tower presented significant engineering challenges due to its location on a constrained urban site in Zurich's neighborhood, bordered by the River on one side and a major railway bridge approximately 12 meters away on another. The available plot measured roughly 20 by 30 meters, with a foundation footprint of only 660 square meters supporting a total empty weight of tons, necessitating a deep pile foundation consisting of 49 piles—each 1.2 to 1.5 meters in diameter and 40 to 50 meters long—driven to amid soft, river-deposited soils prone to amplification of seismic waves by a factor of 2.5 compared to rock outcrops. These conditions demanded precise modeling using springs and dashpots in finite element analyses, as radiation damping was negligible given the structure's of 0.3 Hz versus the site's 0.9 Hz cutoff. A primary logistical difficulty was erecting the 118-meter extension atop and around an existing 42-meter silo from 1957 that remained operational throughout the project, which ran from spring 2013 to April 2016. This required phased construction in six stages, including demolition, reinforcement, and envelopment of the old structure while minimizing disruptions to grain processing, achieved through 24/7 operations involving up to 100 workers and two cranes on the tight site. Cracks that emerged at around 30 meters height during initial pours prompted on-site damage assessments and retrofitting, including thickened concrete walls and the addition of 11 threads of 10-meter-long tension cables, incurring approximately $1 million in costs covered by insurance. Continuous monitoring of displacements ensured compliance, with the new stiff beam grid on pile caps integrating the old and new elements to form the 45 silo cells. Seismic design posed additional complexities in this intermediate-risk zone, where peak ground accelerations reach 0.06 to 0.07g, compounded by the tower's slenderness and proximity to water, which could exacerbate flood risks as evidenced by a +4-meter rise during summer 2015. Engineers employed three-dimensional finite element models with over 3 million elements to simulate responses, predicting maximum roof displacements of 21 cm and foundation shifts of 3.1 cm, alongside peak pile forces of 19,000 kN axial and 3,430 kNm bending. High stress concentrations at the cantilevered riverside corner—designed to accommodate a future public footpath—were addressed through internal concrete reinforcements and wall thickening, ensuring overall stability for the reinforced concrete structure amid dynamic grain loads and environmental exposures.

Timeline and Completion

Construction of the Swissmill Tower commenced in spring 2013, with the project designed to envelop and expand an existing 42-meter structure from 1957, adding massive supporting columns on either side and constructing additional floors over the original roof. The work replaced an earlier mill on the site dating to and aimed to increase storage capacity while maintaining mill operations during the build. The construction proceeded in two phases using slipforming techniques, involving up to 60 workers across three shifts. The first phase concluded in early July 2015, after which the second phase began in September 2015. The tower reached completion in April 2016, marking its official opening and operational status as the world's tallest grain at 118 meters. This timeline reflects the project's focus on precision and minimal disruption to ongoing industrial functions.

Technical Specifications and Operations

Grain Handling and Storage Systems

The Swissmill Tower incorporates 45 vertical silo cells designed for bulk grain storage, enabling the facility to hold approximately 35,000 tonnes of , equivalent to roughly 30% of Switzerland's cereal processing needs. This capacity supports long-term storage for emergency food reserves, sufficient to cover six months of consumption for and surrounding regions. The silos form a honeycomb-like internal structure within the 118-meter tower, constructed from to withstand seismic activity and ensure grain integrity. Grain handling at the tower relies on integrated and conveyor systems typical of modern facilities, facilitating receipt via or truck, vertical transport to the top for distribution into cells, and controlled discharge from the base for milling. As part of Swissmill's operations, which process over 800 tonnes of daily, the tower's systems prioritize efficient , including level monitoring across its cells to optimize storage and prevent spoilage. These mechanisms support the facility's role in Switzerland's by enabling rapid deployment of reserves during shortages.

Capacity and Efficiency Metrics

The Swissmill Tower features a total storage capacity of 40,000 tonnes across 45 silo cells, representing a significant expansion from the original structure's 15,000-tonne limit. This vertical configuration optimizes land use in Zurich's dense urban environment, enabling high-volume containment equivalent to roughly 30% of Switzerland's national storage and distribution needs. The integrated Swissmill facility achieves a daily processing throughput of approximately 800 to 1,000 tonnes of , primarily , durum, corn, and oats, supporting and production. Annually, this equates to over 220,000 tonnes milled, with 90% sourced domestically, underscoring the tower's role in efficient via rail delivery directly to the site. Efficiency is enhanced by the tower's gravity-assisted handling systems, which minimize requirements for vertical grain movement, though specific energy consumption metrics per tonne processed are not publicly detailed in engineering reports. The design incorporates modern upgrades, including automated for real-time monitoring, reducing logistical delays and in high-throughput operations. Recent mill line modernizations with roller mills further improve grinding precision and output consistency, contributing to overall operational yield.

Strategic and Economic Role

Contribution to Swiss Food Security

The Swissmill Tower contributes to Swiss through its substantial grain storage capacity of 35,000 tonnes, facilitating long-term stockpiling to buffer against supply disruptions. Portions of these reserves integrate into Switzerland's national policy, which mandates stockpiles covering four months of staple foods for emergency scenarios. This role is amplified by the facility's position within Swissmill, the country's largest milling operation, which processes around 30% of Switzerland's needs for human consumption. Switzerland's emphasis on domestic grain reserves, including expansions prompted by global events like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlights the tower's strategic importance in maintaining self-sufficiency amid import dependencies. By enabling efficient storage and proximity to milling infrastructure in , the tower supports rapid distribution and processing, reducing vulnerability to international market volatility. Its operations align with broader efforts to secure staple supplies, processing up to 800 tonnes of daily across Swissmill's network. The tower's design as a vertical optimizes space in urban , ensuring centralized reserves for the region's while embodying Switzerland's proactive approach to resilience through private-public synergies in .

Industrial and Logistical Integration

The Swissmill Tower serves as a vertical extension and consolidation of Zurich's historic Kornhaus milling complex, integrating grain storage directly with downstream processing facilities for , durum, corn, oats, and specialty flours operated by Swissmill, Switzerland's largest producer of these products. This design allows for efficient transfer of stored into adjacent roller mills, minimizing horizontal transport distances within the urban industrial zone and supporting an annual milling capacity exceeding 220,000 tons, with approximately 90% sourced from domestic Swiss . The tower's construction addressed capacity losses from the demolition of older , enabling Swissmill to centralize operations while adhering to zoning constraints in Zurich's densely . Logistically, the facility leverages the Kornhaus's pre-existing rail sidings for inbound and outbound shipments, facilitating direct connections to Switzerland's rail network without requiring new infrastructure. Up to four fully loaded trains depart daily from toward Zurich's Hardbrücke station, handling bulk transfers that align with the tower's 35,000-tonne storage volume and reducing reliance on road haulage for long-distance supply. On the south facade, dedicated truck loading bays accommodate shorter-haul deliveries and distributions, integrating the tower into multimodal urban while complying with Switzerland's compulsory mandates for national supply resilience. This rail-truck hybrid supports just-in-time for milling, with the tower functioning as a strategic buffer in the from farm harvest to processed output.

Reception and Impact

Architectural and Engineering Recognition

The Swissmill Tower, designed by Harder Haas Partner AG, has been recognized in architectural discourse for embodying Swiss brutalist principles through its stark, functional concrete form and integration into Zurich's industrial fabric. At 118 meters, it stands as the world's tallest operating , a status that underscores its precedence in vertical grain storage without compromising operational viability. Engineering analyses have highlighted the tower's innovative vertical extension of an existing 40-meter structure between 2013 and 2016, employing techniques to achieve height while maintaining silo integrity for handling. Seismic studies emphasize its design adaptations for resistance, including robust foundation systems and material selections suited to Zurich's , enabling safe functionality as the city's second-tallest building. These features have prompted academic examination of IT applications in its , affirming efficient project execution amid urban constraints.

Criticisms and Public Debates

The Swissmill Tower has faced significant criticism primarily centered on its stark, windowless brutalist design, which many view as visually intrusive and incompatible with Zurich's urban aesthetic. Following the Zurich city council's approval of the project on November 24, 2010, opposition rapidly emerged from local residents and architects concerned about the 118-meter structure's dominance in the , with detractors labeling the exposed facade as monotonous and oppressive. This backlash highlighted tensions between industrial functionality and aesthetic harmony, prompting public discourse on whether such utilitarian silos should rise prominently in residential and nightlife districts like Zurich's Kreis 5. Proposals to mitigate the tower's appearance, such as facade conversions or cladding, gained traction amid , reflecting broader debates on industrial monuments to align with contemporary urban sensibilities. Critics argued that the unadorned design exacerbates Zurich's fragmentation, while proponents defended it as an honest expression of purpose-built essential for grain storage. The structure's completion in intensified these discussions, with every aspect of its construction—from material choices to height—becoming a focal point for public scrutiny, as noted in architectural analyses. The tower has also fueled ongoing debates about high-rise development in , questioning the balance between economic necessities like and preserving the city's low-rise character. Some observers contend that its presence underscores the need for stricter to prevent similar "eyesores," potentially influencing future policies on industrial expansions in urban cores. Despite the , the project has not encountered substantial legal challenges or halts, underscoring Switzerland's prioritization of functional over purely visual considerations.

References

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  2. https://heartbrut.com/fr/swissmilltower/
  3. https://architectureprize.com/winners/winner.php?id=5483
  4. https://www.sageglass.com/case-studies/swissmill-tower
  5. https://www.swissmill.ch/geschichte
  6. https://implenia.com/en/media/news-article/implenia-enlarges-the-kornhaus-in-zurich/
  7. https://www.20min.ch/story/zuerich-erhaelt-ein-riesiges-kornsilo-849565601798
  8. https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/weg-frei-fuer-den-bau-des-swissmill-getreidespeichers-ld.803294
  9. https://www.bauwelt.de/themen/bauten/Swissmill-Silo-in-Zuerich-West-Industriearchitektur-Harder-Haas-Partner-2532486.html
  10. https://heartbrut.com/compendium/swissmilltower/
  11. https://worldkings.org/news/europe-records-institute/worldkings-worldkings-news-europe-records-institute-euri-swissmill-tower-world-s-tallest-operating-grain-elevator
  12. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1936/8a5c483378fa83b7d990773109ddc45e501a.pdf
  13. https://www.subtilitas.site/post/150652961844/harder-haas-partner-architekten-kornhaus-swiss
  14. https://buhler-scherler.com/en/references/swissmill-kornhaus-zuerich/
  15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333703832_Construction_and_Seismic_Analysis_of_Swissmill_Tower_in_Zurich_Switzerland
  16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275966405_Earthquake_Analyses_and_Design_of_one_of_the_Tallest_Buildings_in_Zurich_Switzerland
  17. http://www.i-asem.org/publication_conf/structures18/7.ICACC18/YP.2.CC1506_5243F6.pdf
  18. https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/baug/ibk/structural-mechanics-dam/education/femII/SBFEM3.pdf
  19. https://www.cca.qc.ca/en/articles/issues/29/a-social-reset/82455/utility-amenities-as-minor-infrastructures
  20. https://new.abb.com/news/detail/104108/swissmill-chooses-abb-to-supply-customized-motors-for-roller-mills
  21. https://www.vega.com/en-th/company/blog/2019/vendor-managed-inventory-delivers-fast-and-reliable-inventory-data-in-a-grain-mill
  22. https://worldkings.org/news/europe-records-institute/worldkings-worldkings-news-europe-records-institute-euri-swissmill-tower-worlds-tallest-grain-silo
  23. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/17262-swissmill-completes-technology-upgrade
  24. https://millermagazine.com/blog/new-era-for-swissmill-4538
  25. https://www.vega.com/en-us/company/blog/2019/vendor-managed-inventory-delivers-fast-and-reliable-inventory-data-in-a-grain-mill
  26. https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2776
  27. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/swiss-gear-up-hard-times-with-bulked-up-food-reserves-2022-06-30/
  28. https://www.alimentarium.org/en/basic-page/food-security
  29. https://station.plus/themes/30-im-bestand-swissmill
  30. https://architizer.com/projects/kornhaus-zuerich-swissmill/
  31. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333370618_Information_Technologies_IT_Applications_for_Construction_Case_Study_The_Tallest_Silo_of_the_World_in_Zurich
  32. https://archgyan.com/remarkable-brutalist-buildings-in-zurich-youll-admire/
  33. https://www.studioforma.ch/architecture-project/swissmill-facade-conversion-concept/
  34. https://iea.arch.ethz.ch/assets/common/studios/im-bestand-swissmill/pdf/brandlhuber-1.pdf
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