The tower was designed by architect Hermann Henselmann in the shape of an open book, and built between 1968 and 1972.

It followed Henselmann's idea to cap central places in cities with a prominent tower, such as the Jen-Tower in Jena and Fernsehturm in Berlin.

City-Hochhaus was originally part of the University of Leipzig campus at Augustusplatz, was sold by the state government of Saxony and is now owned by the U.S. investment bank Merrill Lynch.

[5] The building was completely renovated between 1999 and 2002, when it lost its aluminium sheathing which was replaced by grey granite.

The offices are now rented to private tenants, including the public broadcaster MDR, the European Energy Exchange[6] and a restaurant called 'Panorama'.