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In March, we showed you the first pieces of glazing that had begun installation on Kohn Pedersen Fox's huge China Zun Tower in Beijing. The following months have seen substantial progress on both cladding placement and floor assembly, as the supertall skyscraper for state-owned investment company CITIC rapidly rises towards its 528-metre pinnacle.
To become the tallest building in Beijing, the centrepiece of the city's new 30-hectare central business district reflects the form of the 'zun,' an ancient Chinese bronze artifact used to pour wine in religious ceremonies. The elongated and refined interpretation of this object — resulting in square floor plates with rounded corners — adopts its elegant curvature. The striking silhouette is shaped by a 78-metre-wide base, which shrinks to a 54-metre-wide midsection and expands to a 69-metre-wide top. This unique curving shell aesthetic is employed in several key interior areas as well, including the entrances and lobby.
The tower will contain the headquarters of CITIC Group and CITIC Bank in addition to further tenant occupied office space. An observation deck and business centre, which will be delineated by a more transparent glass, crowns the supertall. This diverse area will also be illuminated at night to create a landmark beacon that will be visible citywide.
Kohn Pedersen Fox has designed some of the most identifiable supertall skyscrapers in the world, including Shenzhen's Ping An Finance Centre, Seoul's Lotte World Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center. They'll add to their impressive résumé in 2018, when the China Zun Tower is officially completed.
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