finished. 1908
The PASTa building is named after the Polska Akcyjna Spółka Telefoniczna (Polish Telecommunications Company) which took over the headquarters after the contract of the Swedish telecom company, Cedergren, ended. It was Poland's first skyscraper, coming in at 51m which made it the tallest building in the Russian Empire (Warsaw was part of the Russian Partition) the tallest apartment building in Europe and one of the first on the contintent to use steel reinforced concrete construction. It looks like a middieval castle tower (neo-gothic) with art nouveau interiors.
The building was an important strategic location during the Warsaw Uprising. Only after weeks of fighting did the Polish Army manage to gain control. Needless to say the building was heavily damaged. In 2000 the city of Warsaw gave the building to the Foundation of Polish Combatants who currently administer the building. In 2003 they placed the iconic symbol of Poland fighting on the roof: a P with an anchor.
PASTa circa 1914 and during the Uprising in 1944.
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