The Channel Tower in Hamburg is a modern office complex designed by the Hamburg architect Bernhard Winking. It is an 18-story high-rise building that stretches 75 meters above the city centre. In addition to many office and event rooms, there is also a sky lounge on the top floor of the Channel Tower. According to the architect Prof. Bernhard Winking, its symbolic shape was created "as a metamorphosis of industrial architecture and modern architecture for high-tech companies and contemporary office work".

It is the modern landmark of Hamburg’s Harburg district. The Channel Tower, which was planned and built in just one year, rises above Harburg’s canal landscape of Harburg and looks like a seaside cliff.

Its arrangement of internal space is very flexible, and in combination with large-scale glazing, it provide a bright, attractive office space, with a spectacular view in some rooms. The flexibility of interior design and low operating costs were of great importance for the investor and the building operator at the same time. The marketing concept of the building was to offer comfortable office space that could be easily extended and divided if necessary and could be occupied even by smaller start-ups that do not need huge office space.

The emphasis was placed on the choice of glazing for the façade tower, as it was not planned to use air conditioning inside and no external shading on the outside. At the same time, a high level of daylight was required.

In order to combine the most neutral view and transparency possible with effective sun protection, it was decided to use the glass that combines solar control, thermal insulation and sound insulation due to the high noise level on the side of Karnapp Street.

The use of Pilkington Suncool™ 66/33 high performance solar control glass, which offers high light transmission, low solar heat transmittance and good thermal insulation, combined with sound insulation glass, helped reduce the need for expensive air conditioning systems. The combination achieved a Ug value of 1.1 W/m²K and sound insulation of 45 dB.
 
At the lower levels of the building, it is combined with special cast-in-place resin laminated glass to provide the required sound insulation (Rw = 52 dB).

A special design solution is provided for the façade of the tower. Here, the strips of DELOGCOLOR^® green enamelled glass spandrel panels ensure a subtle horizontal structure at the level transitions.

Photography: Hans Georg Esch