Monumental skyscraper, situated in quarter of streets: Marszałkowska, Świętokrzyska, Emilia Plater and Jerozolimskie Avenue. Address: Defilady Square, 1. Erected 1952-55 according to proj. Soviet architect L. W. Rudniew, by team of Soviet engineers and workers, as gift of Soviet nation for Poland. Highest building in Poland. Frontage from Defilady Square side has 42 floors, height 230.68 m, topped with needle height 43 m. Capacity of edifice: 817,000 m3, number of rooms - 3,288, with space - 123,084 m2. On 30th floor, on 114 m over the ground, is found scenic terrace, restored in 2000. He makes possible viewing of Warsaw panorama (see photos executed from this terrace).
Palace of Culture and Science, has 50 years, but is still one of highest buildings in Europe. Higher than it, are only: television towers, Tour Eiffel, Łomonosow University in Moscow and 3 office buildings in West Europe (2 in Frankfurt and 1 in London).
In the Millenium Night, Millenium Clock was opened. It's height is 6 m. It is the biggest tower clock in Europe and the heighest in the World. We can see the hour from 3 km.
HISTORY (is long, so I'll translate it later)
In 1945, Josif Stalin gave an idea to built something as a gift for Poles. He didn't describe any specific building. Only intention was clear - for Bolshevik's Revolution. Polish and Soviets delegations met several times for decide, what kind of building will be built.
From notes of Józef Sigalin (who after Second World War was main Warsaw architect) we know, that in 1951 Soviets propose something special. Wiaczesław Mołotow, who in July 1951 was in Warsaw, asked: What would you say for high building, some kind of skyscraper? Poles agreed and Soviets started designing. On 5th of April 1952, Nikolaj Sobolev from Soviets and Polish Prime Minister Cyrankiewicz signed in the Belvedere the decision on building a palace.
Main architect was Lev Rudniew, who's figure still stays in Palace. He tried to add something Polish to Palace. He traveled around Poland, to Kraków, Chełm, Zamość and some other cities to find datails, which he could use in design. For example, 14 giant columns should look like in Polish middle-age magnat's palaces.
At least, Rudniev made 5 projects. Poles have chosen one of them. The height of building was mark by planes, which has baloons. Soviets proposed 120 m. But Polish ambitions were greater. Final height is a decision of Polish, not Soviet, architects.
On 2nd may 1952 the construction began. At first, engineers tried, if the field can hold Palace's weight. They put there iron blocks from war ship Gneisenau to examine the field.
For constructing, Soviets get 3,500 workers from Soviet Union. They built for them special small city in Jelonki, north-west Warsaw (today it's a students' borough). It was like ghetto. Only workers lived there. They have there bars, swimming pool, cinema etc. They couldn't go outside. They were transported by buses to the place of construction. They must have special passportes to get inside. It was normal situation, that they slept on higher storeys, when worked in days and nights. Because the time was more important. The organization of work was excellent. The giant was constructed for 3 years. In accidents at work died 16 Soviets.
The construction was very hard. Soviets must establish special factories in Soviet Union. In Estland, they've built factory, which made ceramic. Other materials was imported from Ural and Georgia. All figures, which stays at front of Palace (except Copernic and Mickiewicz), was made in Estland. On Jelonki it was established small factory, which made things for inside.
Before finish, it was known, that building will serve for culture. This idea was made on pictures, put on the walls in all city, even on boxes of safety matches and cigaretttes. Also on Polish post stamps. First foreign post stamp with Palace was edited in 1963 on 32nd Ride of Monte Carlo, which started from Pl. Defilad, near the Palace.
Najwyższy drogowskaz w Polsce oddano do użytku w 1955 roku. 21 lipca protokołem odebrał go od budowlańców premier Cyrankiewicz. Dzień później tysiące Polaków zgromadzonych na placu Defilad patrzyło jak władze Polski dziękują Rosjanom za 200-metrowy prezent, mówiąc "Niech żyje nam drogi przyjaciel, ostoja pokoju!".
Szybko okazało się, że projektanci gmachu nie przewidzieli, że tak dużym zainteresowaniem może się cieszyć taras widokowy PKiN. W pierwszym okresie windy nie nadążały wozić na górę wszystkich chętnych. Warszawę z 30 piętra podziwiali m.in. Jurij Gagarin, Walentyna Tierieszkowa, córka Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej, Guliette Greco i wielu premierów i prezydentów sprawujących władzę w latach 60. i 70.
Natomiast w 1956 roku rozpoczęła się seria samobójczych skoków z tarasu widokowego. Pierwszy był Francuz, który na tragiczną śmierć wybrał właśnie pałac, a nie wieżę Eiffel'a. Niedługo po nim w dramatyczny sposób pożegnała się z tym światem para kochanków. Jedno pochodziło ze wsi, drugie z miasta. Rodzina nie zgadzała się na mezalians. Zakochani skoczyli więc z 30 piętra trzymając się za ręce. Dziewczyna zostawiła na tarasie klapki i koszyk z kosmetykami. Po nich jeszcze pięciu mężczyzn rzuciło się z pałacu. W latach 70. zdecydowano więc o założeniu krat na tarasie. Tak zostało do dziś.