Ongoing History Daily: The U2 Tower

Back in 2007, a major real estate development was planned for Dublin. It was going to be called the “U2 Tower.” The vision called for a 35-storey building rising about the River Liffey with the first 30 floors being luxury condos. The top five floors were saved for U2’s organization, complete with a brand new recording studio complex.

Each floor was to be slightly offset from the one below with the effect being the 35th floor twisted 45 degrees from the ground floor. And using a series of inclined columns, the glass used for the facade was to give the building a transparent appearance. It was going to be the tallest and most striking building in all of Ireland with a cost of €200 million. What happened? The 2008 economic crisis hit and the U2 Tower was never built. In its place is a 22-storey building called Capital Dock.

And U2? Nowhere on the premises.