The new glassy construction resembles a hoisted sail, water wave, iceberg or quartz crystal resting on top of an old brick warehouse on a peninsula in the Elbe River. The City of Hamburg wanted a statement building, similar in concept to the Sydney Opera House. It opened in 2017, at a cost of 866 million euro, by the Swiss architect firm of Herzog & de Meuron. There are over 1000 curved glass window panels. The building has 26 floors with the first 8 within the brick façade. A curved escalator rises from the ground floor to the top of the brick floors, to a Plaza observation deck, open to the public. These escalators are the longest in Germany. The Plaza offers great views of the Elbe and Hamburg. The Westin hotel leases space in the eastern half of the new glass structure for 244 rooms and there are 3 concert halls in the west half, along with 45 luxury apartments, conference space and a spa. There is a parking for 433 within the brick building below. You cued to get tickets to ride up escalator, but they were free and line moved quickly.