Gate of Europe

Europe Gate / Europe's Gate
Puerta de Europa (Europa's Gate)
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeOffice
LocationPaseo de la Castellana 189/216, Madrid, Spain
Coordinates40°27′59″N 3°41′16″W / 40.46639°N 3.68778°W / 40.46639; -3.68778
Construction started1989
Completed1996
OwnerCaixaBank and Realia
Height
Roof114 m (374 ft)
Technical details
Floor count26
Lifts/elevators8
Design and construction
Architect(s)Philip Johnson, John Burgee
DeveloperKuwait Investment Authority
Structural engineerLeslie E. Robertson Associates, RLLP, New York
Main contractorFCC

The Gate of Europe towers (Spanish: Puerta de Europa, - Door of Europe-), also known as KIO Towers (Torres KIO), are twin office buildings near the Plaza de Castilla in Madrid, Spain. The towers have a height of 114 m (374 ft) and have 26 floors. They were constructed from 1989 to 1996. The Puerta de Europa is the second tallest twin towers in Spain after the Torres de Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The Gate of Europe towers were designed by the American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, built by Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas[1] and commissioned by the Kuwait Investment Office (hence their initial name "Torres KIO" or "KIO Towers"). Leslie E. Robertson Associates, RLLP New York (LERA) provided structural engineering services. Each building is 115 m tall with an inclination of 15°, making them the first inclined skyscrapers in the world. They are located near the Chamartín railway station, on the sides of the Plaza de Castilla bus station, north from the Paseo de la Castellana and near the Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA).

After the receivership of Grupo Torras, KIO had to sell the buildings, which are now owned by CaixaBank and Realia.

The west tower has a rooftop helicopter pad outlined in blue; the east tower has a red one.