The Roma Tower skyscraper in Warsaw is now entering the next phase of the development. Demolition work has begun on St Barbara’s Street to prepare the site for the construction of the parish section of the property. In August, the plot where the 170-metre tower is to be built was also fenced off.
Roma Tower has now been given the green light
The saga surrounding the Roma Tower has been ongoing for over a dozen years, but it was not until 2026 that the entire project gained significant momentum. On 4 February, the planning permission became final and enforceable; in August, the site at the junction of Nowogrodzka and Emilia Plater Streets was fenced off, and the developer began talks with potential main contractors. BBI Development announced that it had signed two letters of intent with companies interested in building the skyscraper. The new Roma Tower is to be 170 metres tall, with 48 storeys above ground and six below ground. The original plan for an office block has been replaced by a design for a luxury apartment block. Jacek Świderski from the Juvenes Projekt studio is responsible for the architecture, whilst the interiors of the communal areas are to be designed by the Italian firm Pininfarina. The building will feature, amongst other things, a swimming pool, a wellness area and a cinema.
The tower and its architecture
Roma Tower will be built on Nowogrodzka and Emilia Plater Streets, in the immediate vicinity of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles. The tower will be one of the tallest new buildings in this part of Śródmieście. Its form is set at an angle to the streets, and the lower part of the complex is to feature arcades and a roof terrace. Beneath the ground, there will be a six-level car park.
Image: bbidevelopment.pl
A new parish house is being built on St Barbara’s Street
The work currently underway on St Barbara’s Street is part of the Roma Tower development. As part of this, demolition has begun on the dilapidated car wash on the side facing Emilia Plater Street and on the parish house situated on the corner of Nowogrodzka and St Barbara’s Streets. Importantly, the building being demolished is not a listed building and was constructed several decades ago. The neighbouring presbytery, on the other hand, dates from the 19th century and will be preserved. A new parish house is being built on a plot closer to the church. Its construction is one of the agreements reached between the parish and the Roma Tower developers. The design for this building was prepared by the Juvenes Projekt architectural practice.
The history of the former Świętokrzyski Cemetery in the background
The site on St Barbara’s Street sparked considerable controversy even before heavy machinery rolled onto the building site. In 2020, the area associated with the former Świętokrzyski Cemetery was entered in the register of historic monuments. Questions arose regarding the development’s impact on the historic surroundings of the church, the green spaces and the underground remains of the former necropolis. The matter gained momentum following discoveries made by archaeologists. In 2026, a dispute erupted concerning work on the new parish house and the protection of the relics of the former cemetery. Whilst Roma Tower does hold a valid planning permission, the development still has to go through further stages of site preparation.
The city centre today and in the future. Photo: Google Maps and bbidevelopment.pl
Changes around Roma Tower
Work in public spaces will also form part of the overall development. The developer has pledged to redevelop sections of Nowogrodzka and Emilia Plater streets, introduce new planting and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Plans also include works at the St Barbara Gardens and the renovation of part of the historic buildings within the parish complex. Thus, Roma Tower will have an impact on a much larger area than just the plot of land on which the skyscraper stands. The neighbourhood has not undergone a comprehensive refurbishment for a long time, so there is hope that it will soon become more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.
When will construction of Roma Tower begin?
For the time being, it is still too early to talk about the construction of the 170-metre tower. However, the fencing off of the site and the start of the process to select a main contractor mark a clear change following years of administrative disputes and successive revisions to the project. The developer is in talks with two potential contractors – the selection of a company is expected to take place before the end of 2026. If the schedule is maintained, the next stage will involve preparatory work, followed by earthworks and foundation work. After years of stagnation, the project has clearly moved closer to the start of construction.
Source:BBI Development,money.pl
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