Yet another gleaming glass supertall has risen in the world's most populous country, this time at the heart of the masterplanned China Resources Business District within Shenzhen's Houhai District. Bordered by Shenzhen Bay, Shenzhen Sports Complex, and a linear greenbelt, the 67-storey China Resources Headquarters designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates will be tied to its urban landscape with underground links to public transportation.
Diagrids at the top and bottom of the 393-metre tower are produced by the convergence of 58 external columns. The diagrids function as structural stabilizers and unique architectural adornments, with sharp geometry framing the entryway at the base, while signifying the culmination of the tower's tapered profile at the apex. In enhancing the building's structural integrity, the diagrids permit the provision of column-free office floor plates.
The building's tapering envelope facilitates several different office types, including smaller and more boutique spaces. The "Sky Hall" at the pinnacle of the tower will provide a venue for a variety of corporate functions, with tenants enjoying panoramic views of the city. To the north of the building, a vegetated park will host a small glass pavilion that transitions into a sunken gathering place serving to connect the office lobby, retail space, performance hall, and auditorium.
Construction began in 2012 and reached a milestone in July 2016 when it topped out. Having surpassed the 384-metre height of Shun Hing Square, China Resources Headquarters is now the third tallest building in Shenzhen. The latest photos from the city put the building in context, as it dwarfs its comparably petite surroundings. The images show the project's striking cladding covering over half of the tower. A strip of the facade has been left unclad for the time being, indicating the presence of the building's elevator hoist. That will be filled in soon however, with the development expected to be fully complete and ready for occupancy in 2018.
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