The New Estrel Tower

What began more than 10 years ago as “a sketch on the back of a napkin,” as remarked by owner Ekkehard Streletzki at a recent press conference, is soon to be Germany’s tallest and potentially most innovative hotel. When it comes to business events and human interaction, Streletzki and his son Maxim have a clear vision for the Estrel Tower. Responding to the changes brought about by the Corona pandemic, they are incorporating the new needs and wishes of future guests into the building's conceptual design. Maxim believes that human interaction is and will be irreplaceable, therefore he aims to replace more traditional concepts with a more innovative approach. With the focus on enabling interaction and the unique experience, the tower will be a mixed-use, multi-functional building.  
 

With a total height of 176 meters, the Estrel Tower will be Berlin’s tallest skyscraper and Germany’s tallest hotel. The 45 floors spanning a total of 77,500 square meters of space will be home to 525 hotel rooms, serviced apartments and 9,000 square meters of state-of-the-art offices and co-working spaces. Additionally, the tower’s base provides 2,000 square meters of event space and an entire floor devoted to fitness and wellness. The atrium, with bright, natural light and abundant greenery will be an additional highlight. It will house a local bakery, a gallery as well as a start-up incubator. The 41st and 42nd floor are dedicated as future meeting and private dining rooms, while the 43rd and 44th floor will be home to a farm-to-table restaurant offering regional culinary specialties. On the top floor, the sky bar along with its outdoor patio will offer an impressive view of all of Berlin.  
 

Sustainability was a focal point in the planning of the Estrel Tower from the start. Designed by architecture firm Barkow Leibinger, the building’s exterior features aluminum fins specially designed to coincide with the sun’s position, resulting in a natural cooling effect of the building in the warmer months. In addition to planted rooftops outfitted with solar panels, the project makes use of an innovative CO2-saving energy concept developed in cooperation with E.ON Business Solutions and RTWH Aachen University. 

The sustainability focus continues with interior fittings made primarily from regionally sourced wood and recycled materials and more than half of the available parking spots reserved especially for bicycles. The grounds will be planted with wildflowers, creating a biotope for diverse animal species. The Tower project team's sustainability goal is to be awarded the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. On the 41st and 42nd floors, directly above the meeting rooms, the farm-to-table restaurant will serve ingredients sourced directly from local producers. Freshness and transparency lie at the heart of this catering concept, with a large portion of these ingredients coming from a historic farm in Brandenburg, acquired specifically for this project. “This way, we’ll be in control of our supply chain and know exactly where our ingredients are coming from”, says Maxim Streletzki. 

Just as the sustainability efforts score high marks, so does the property's ideal location and excellent accessibility.  An underground walkway is planned to seamlessly connect the new skyscraper landmark to the existing 30,000 square meters of event space located in the Estrel Congress Center (ECC). Positioned conveniently between the BER Airport and the heart of Berlin, right on the city's public transportation ring, the mixed-use development will serve as a gateway to Berlin.  The new BER Airport, as well as the main downtown areas, can be easily reached by public transport or car in a mere 20 to 30 minutes. The excellent accessibility further contributes to the Estrel’s position as Germany's premier “all-under-one-roof” conference venue.