Gartner The Circle project cover
Ph.: © René Dürr
History

Pioneers in façade engineering
150 Years of tradition, quality and innovation

The history of one of the world’s longest established façade engineers is marked by a
culture of continuous improvement and a track record of historical milestone projects.

1868
Josef Gartner sets up a steel workshop in Gundelfingen an der Donau, Germany.
1897
Gartner develops a strong local reputation due to his filigree artisanal work. The construction of a bridge across the river Brenz represents the first large scale project and brings accolades from the industry.

Josef Gartner I

Wrought-iron gate made by Gartner in the Gundelfingen parish church St. Martin.

The bridge across the river Brenz.

0103
1900
The first international project: production of numerous parts for a fleet of new streetcars in Santiago, Chile.
1903
Josef Gartner II takes over the steel workshop and starts training apprentices.

Josef Gartner II

Apprentices at Gartner’s around 1900.

Anton Gartner (third from left) sitting in a streetcar.

0103
1920
Gartner has now a wide range of products and manufactures not only heating and water installation systems but also gates and doors. Gartner realizes a number of construction projects for architects of a new building style, the so-called ‘Postbauschule’ and starts to use aluminum.
1927
As the business grows, the original workshops in Gundelfingen Centre are outgrown, and we move into a new factory - which is still standing today.

Post office vehicle depot in Augsburg, 1925.

Steel-wood doors for the Road Operation Centre Seckenheim, 1939.

Doors for a sculptors studio near Munich.

Engine shed gate for the Reichsbahn, approx. 1938.

The original workshops in Gundelfingen, Germany.

0105
1950
After the end of the war, the construction of industrial buildings become an additional line of business.
1954
The first large-scale curtain wall project: Headquarters of Kaufhof AG, Cologne, Germany.
1968
Gartner develops and patents the first integrated façade for Gartner Pavillion and completes the first project in London, United Kingdom: Commercial Union Building.

Gable parts for a steam saw and planning mill, 1950.

Gartner truck transporting glass panes.

A major order in 1950 - assembly of the large exhibition hall Stuttgart Killesberg.

Headquarters of Kaufhof AG
Cologne | GERMANY

Gartner Pavillion
Gundelfingen | GERMANY

Commercial Union Building
London | UNITED KINGDOM

0106
1980
1983
First project in Asia: façade renovation of the Connaught Center in Hong Kong.
1984
155 m-high twin towers of the Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany were clad by Gartner with an aluminum curtain wall with a size of approximately 40,000 sqm.
1986
Lloyd’s of London - The revolutionary and yet functional industrial design of the Lloyd’s building revolutionizes London’s cityscape and still does so today.

Connaught Center
Hong Kong | P.R. OF CHINA

Ph.: © Stephan Liebl

Deutsche Bank
Frankfurt | GERMANY

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Lloyd's Redevelopment
London | UNITED KINGDOM

0103
1990
Bank of China Tower features a curtain wall made up of aluminum and reflecting glass. The tower changed Hong Kong's skyline.
1997
The Commerzbank skyscraper in Frankfurt is clad with a Double Skin Façade.
1998
The 420 m tall Jin Mao Tower is completed - China’s tallest building at the time - and garners many awards.
Ph.: © John Nye

Bank of China Tower
Hong Kong | P.R. OF CHINA

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Ph.: © Stephan Liebl

Commerzbank Tower
Frankfurt | GERMANY

Ph.: © Shanghai Renjie Photo Co., Ltd., Niyan Design Photo Studio

Jin Mao Tower
Shanghai | P.R. OF CHINA

0103
2001
Gartner becomes a member of the Permasteelisa Group, the worldwide leading contractor in the engineering, project management, manufacturing and installation of architectural envelopes and interior systems.
2010
The Closed Cavity Façade, a further development of the Double Skin Façade, is installed at Roche Diagnostics in Rotkreuz, Switzerland for the first time and sets a new standard in sustainable building industry.
2017
Elbphilharmonie - the new beacon for the Hamburg docks - features curved, coated and printed glazing for a sparkling crystal, pushing the boundaries of façade technology.
Ph.: © rampant pictures

Aerial view of Gundelfingen Headquarters.

Ph.: © Thomas Mayer

Roche Diagnostics International AG
Rotkreuz | SWITZERLAND

Ph.: © Cordelia Ewerth

Elbphilharmonie
Hamburg | GERMANY

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0103
Today
Today, Gartner is a technology leader offering customized solutions for architectural challenges and pushing the boundaries of what is technically feasible. Our innovative façades made of steel, aluminum and glass shape the skylines of major cities worldwide.
Ph.: © Jason O'Rear

UBER Headquarters
San Francisco, CA | USA

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Ph.: © Foster + Partners

Bloomberg
London | UNITED KINGDOM

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Ph.: © Jose Luis Stephens, www.stephensfoto.com

Bahá'i Temple of South America
Santiago | CHILE

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0103
150 Years Josef Gartner

In 1868 Josef Gartner founds a small blacksmith shop in the Gundelfingen town square: the foundation stone for a successful company to this very day.