Lanxess AG : Former Lufthansa building renamed “LANXESS Tower”

• Future LANXESS headquarters in Cologne receives a new name
• Staff submit 600 suggestions
• Building project proceeding as planned
• Employees to move in during second half of 2013

Leverkusen - Specialty chemicals company LANXESS will be able to welcome employees, customers and guests to the "LANXESS Tower" from the middle of next year. This is the new name chosen for the company's future headquarters on Deutzer Freiheit in Cologne.

In summer 2011, LANXESS asked its employees to help choose a name for the company's new headquarters. After more than 600 suggestions were submitted internally, the Board of Management has now announced that "LANXESS Tower" is the winning name. Standing at around 100 meters and with a fully glazed exterior, the ultra-modern new headquarters will be another eye-catcher across the banks of the Rhine.

Rapid progress

The former Lufthansa building is being modernized by HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung and the work is progressing rapidly. The façade of the 22-floor-building is almost finished, with 2.500 glass elements lending it an elegant and transparent quality.

The interior concept creates a contemporary, flexible working environment on 38,000 square meters for more than 1,000 employees. It features bright offices flooded with light to promote communication and teamwork, plus large meeting, conference and media rooms fitted with all the latest technical equipment.

A generous food area is planned for the basement, with a cafeteria on the ground floor to ensure staff can enjoy a good meal. The first floor is reserved for conference rooms, while the 18th floor will be home to a Business Lounge and additional meeting rooms. The Supervisory Board will move into offices right at the top of the building on the 19th floor. The Board of Management and its dedicated staff will oversee all the specialty chemicals company's business from the 17th floor.

High energy standards

The LANXESS Tower is a shining example of sustainable, responsible architecture, fulfilling high international standards for eco-friendliness and energy efficiency. The building has already received a gold medal as precertification from the German Sustainable Building Council.

Ecological, low-emission materials are a key part of the building concept. In addition, the LANXESS Tower's primary energy requirements during operating hours have been reduced to a minimum. Not only is this a sustainable method of conserving resources, it also cuts operating costs considerably. The new headquarters will use groundwater for heating and cooling. Cutting-edge facades complete with triple glazing, heating and cooling ceiling systems and air conditioning will create the perfect environment for boosting the well-being and performance of everyone working in the building.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 16,100 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 47 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good.