Munich Re Opens New Office Building

Germany’s Munich Re announced the opening of a new office complex, “Am Münchner Tor,” in its hometown on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 by Dr. Nikolaus von Bomhard, Chairman of the Board of Management.

The construction took just over three years. Von Bombard remarked that Munich Re had remained true to its roots in Schwabing (a district of Munich) and had once again succeeded in putting ecological concerns into practice.

Christian Ude, Mayor of the City of Munich, was present to address the owners, staff and neighbors, as he had previously done at the laying of the foundation stone and the topping-out ceremony.

The company’s announcement stressed its commitment to the environment. It noted: “The complex was built according to the plans of architects Allmann Sattler Wappner (ASW). It consists of an 85 meter [280 feet] high rise with 23 floors and a lower six-story building, the latter being adjoined to the building of the Swiss Life/Rentenanstalt. In this way, the buildings offer noise abatement and serve as an emission buffer for the residents in Berliner Strasse against the traffic from the ring road and from the access ramp to the A9 motorway.

“The high-rise concept meant that only 40 percent of the site needed to be used for building. This allowed us to maintain the existing biotope and also to create a small lake. Most of the area is accessible to the public. In addition, the noise-abatement section next to the ring road has been planted with ornamental grass and the roof of the flat building has been greened over.”

Munich Re now has two locations in Munich, the first being its traditional headquarters in Königinstrasse next to the English Garden. “Am Münchner Tor” accommodates some 1,200 employees.