Investors in the Towarowa22 project have just received planning permission for a 150-metre-high AFI Tower skyscraper in the heart of Warsaw’s business centre. Designed by JEMS Architekci studio, the 40-storey structure will stand at the intersection of Towarowa and Pańska Streets near the Daszyńskiego Roundabout.
The new office building, named AFI Tower, will be part of a multi-functional superstore developed jointly by AFI, Echo Investment and Archicom Collection. The project consists of two parts: a slender 150-metre-high tower and an adjacent 85-metre-high podium. The distinctive faults of the block resemble two stacks of books stacked side by side – a symbolic tribute to the history of the Polish Word House, once the largest printing facility in the country, which operated on the site.
The retracted ground floor opens up the building to street level, ushering visitors into a six-metre-long main lobby space with a mezzanine and café facing Wronia Street. From there, five sets of high-speed, double-deck lifts will take employees and visitors straight to the upper floors. An unusual solution are the terraces available on almost every level of the tower – this is the only office building of its kind in Poland that will allow tenants to relax outdoors with a panoramic view of Warsaw. The terraces are not only conducive to well-being, but also stabilise the local microclimate by limiting the heating of the façade and promoting natural air circulation.
Halfway up the tower, on the roof of the lower part of the building, a 1,200-square-metre garden is planned. The garden, designed by RS Landscape Architecture, is to be distinguished by lush vegetation and provide all tenants with a relaxation zone in a green environment.
AFI Tower will offer more than 50,000 square metres of flexible office space, designed to accommodate around 7,300 people. The interiors will be designed with contemporary needs in mind – both concentrated work and team meetings.
The skyscraper will be powered by renewable energy and, thanks to innovative technologies, will use significantly less electricity than comparable buildings. An air-conditioning system will recover excess heat and transfer it to the district heating network, supporting the heating of flats in the area. A sleek façade with triple-glazed windows will further reduce the need for interior cooling and heating. The long list of green certifications will be complemented by the highest ratings: BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL Health & Safety, WiredScore Platinum and SmartCore.
The location just two minutes from the Rondo Daszyńskiego metro station, tram and bus stops will ensure convenient access by public transport. Cyclists will benefit from over 300 parking spaces, changing rooms and showers, and drivers will have a comfortable underground garage. A green square with trees, shrubs and resting areas will be created around the building as a natural extension of the future park. Within the boundaries of the entire super-quarter, the total area of green space is expected to reach two hectares, which will help to reduce the urban heat island effect and socially revitalise the surrounding streets.
Work on the AFI Tower will continue until the second half of 2028. In parallel, the M7 and Gutenberg flats are already under construction in the Towarowa22 super-quarter, and further phases of the development will soon enter the design phase.
design: Jems Architekci
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