Frankfurt Messeturm

Down to the last detail

The Frankfurt Messeturm, also known as the “Pencil”, is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. As part of extensive renovation work, its lighting was also modernized from 2019 onwards. hansen provided lighting specialist Neon Zentgraf with customized LED technology for the project.

The project

A new lighting concept was developed as part of the renovation of the Messeturm, designed by Helmut Jahn. The aim was to highlight the building’s distinctive architecture with light while integrating the technology as discreetly as possible into the existing structure.

The collaboration came about through a lighting planner who brought hansen on board as the technical partner. For the implementation, hansen worked closely with Frankfurt-based lighting specialist Neon Zentgraf.

The right lighting solution

The first challenge: The tower’s four triangular bay windows were to be fitted with illuminated panels at intervals of two floors.

To test the lighting effect under real conditions, one bay window was reconstructed true to the original and installed on the construction site for testing. Together with the project partners, the lighting technology and light colour were adjusted until the desired effect was achieved.

Following the successful implementation, a further order followed: the existing contour lighting at the top of the tower was also to be renewed and upgraded with modern LED technology.

The implementation

Once approved, things moved quickly: within just two weeks, the Neon Zentgraf team installed all of the illuminated panels.

The required LED technology was supplied by hansen on time and pre-assembled. hansen façade profiles were subsequently used for the top of the tower to create an attractive three-dimensional lighting effect.

The result

The new lighting effectively showcases the architecture of the Messeturm without overpowering it. The illuminated bay windows and modernized tower top give the Frankfurt landmark a contemporary appearance – with reliable LED technology made in Germany.