Change your perspective: Rottweil seen from up high
The Test Tower
Elegant and airy, the Test Tower connects the sky and the earth. Germany’s tallest viewing platform rises an impressive 246 meters into the sky of Baden-Württemberg.
Opened in 2017, Rottweil’s new landmark is located in the Berner Feld industrial estate – at eye level and in silent harmony with the medieval church and defence towers of the historic town centre. The architects Helmut Jahn and Werner Sobek covered the winding concrete in a sheath made of fibreglass fabric, which reflects the light differently depending on time of the day, season, or weather conditions, generating fascinating visual effects. In a mere 30 seconds, the glass panoramic lift swipes the visitors up to Germany’s highest viewing platform. Up high, you can enjoy a fabulous panoramic view over the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb. On a clear day, you can even see the Alps.
Practically invisible for the visitors, the interior of the tower holds the equipment for its primary task: elevator testing. In twelve elevator shafts at top speeds of up to 18 meters per second, state-of-the-art elevators are tested and certified. They are intended to carry people up and down the tallest skyscrapers world-wide.
Data and facts on the Test Tower
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A total of 12 different shafts arei provided for testing and certifying the elevator variants of the future. At top speeds of 64.8 km/h, this happens under conditions that are second to none. The cableless multi-cabin elevator system MULTI is made ready for the market here.
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The heat from the motors and computers is stored in an air accumulator, from where it is recirculated into the rooms to be heated via heat exchangers.
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The cover is made from 17,000 square metres of PTFE-coated glass fibre tissue, a highly complex material: self-cleaning, durable, and almost transparent when seen from afar. It protects the building from wind and intense sunlight and creates a constantly changing incidence of light inside the tower.
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At a height of 232 metres, Germany’s tallest public viewing platform offers the visitors a panoramic view over the Swabian Alb, and on a clear day even of the Swiss Alps.
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The deflection of the tower, attributable to the natural force of the wind, can be up to 75 cm. A vibration absorber has been installed to reduce the deflection. The resonance frequency of the tower is 0.2 Hz. Thus, the elevator shafts are tested under real conditions.
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During construction, the method of choice for erecting towers was used – the sliding formwork construction was brought up together with the working platforms on sliding rods and grew with the tower thanks to several hydraulic jacks. During this “sliding” process, the usual work steps such as concreting, reinforcing and curing the concrete were never interrupted.
