City-Hochhaus Leipzig

City-Hochhaus Leipzig on Augustusplatz is the tallest building in Saxony at 142.5 metres. Hermann Henselmann, also architect of the Berlin Karl-Marx-Allee, designed it deliberately in the shape of an open book as a symbol of the neighboring Karl Marx University. Locally it was known as the Uniriese until 2012. It was built from 1968 to 1972 as the tallest structure in East Germany and held the all-German record until the Jentower in Jena was extended in 1995. After reunification the university sold the tower; it was gutted and renovated by 2002. Today the main tenant is the public broadcaster MDR. The 31st floor houses the Plate of Art restaurant and the public Panorama Tower observation deck with a 360-degree view over the Leipzig lowland, the Battle of the Nations Monument axis and the new lake district. Entry is from the Augustusplatz side; the lift gets you up in under a minute.