Linz’s tallest tower increases by one floor every 17 days

For a long time people were literally moving underground, but for a few weeks now the “Quadrill” project has been growing on the Linzer Tabakfabrik site, visible to everyone driving past.

The tower will ultimately be 109 meters high, which is currently growing by one floor every two and a half weeks and has already managed the “first 20 meters”, as Thomas Bodner, Managing Director of the Bodner Group, put it yesterday.

On Monday, those responsible celebrated the symbolic laying of the foundation stone for the project, which will complete the Linz tobacco factory and make it its own district. After all, after the completion of the construction work in 2025, 5000 people will work, live and reside here.

Balance between old and new

This connection between the old tobacco factory and the four new buildings was particularly emphasized by all those involved. Bodner spoke of a balancing act between old and new. Architect Martin Zechner expressed his great respect for the existing building. However, the tradition of Behrens architecture was used to further develop the new building project.

And for Mayor Klaus Luger (SP), the fact that after the end of the construction work there will be no boundary between the tobacco factory, which has been converted into a creative workshop, and the new buildings with a hotel, offices and apartments, is a great asset for the future of the entire area. “We want a revival on both properties,” said Luger in the direction of Bodner.

For Markus Eidenberger, director of the tobacco factory, a vision is now taking shape. The old tobacco factory no longer has any additional space to offer, but there are still plenty of interested parties. A supermarket, bank branches and a pharmacy will be located in the new buildings. The Arcotel will take up nine floors of the tower, plus the Skybar at the top.

Yesterday, guests at the laying of the foundation stone were able to experience a small foretaste of the view from up there. With a cabin suspended from the crane, it was at least possible to reach the height of the 17th floor of the tower under construction, which will have 28 floors.

Residents fear traffic

People in the neighborhood are still not particularly excited about future prospects. Above all, the traffic situation is causing headaches for the residents. The underground car park is too small “for such a dense project” and there is practically no public transport, criticizes Brita Piovesan, spokeswoman for the “Tobacco factory – we have a say” initiative. The light rail project is in the stars, concrete plans and schedules would be missing.