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Skidmore, Owings & Merrill unveiled their design for a new 288-metre-tall skyscraper in Hangzhou, China this week, with a goal to have the tower completed in time for the city's hosting of the 2022 Asian Games. Designed for Zhejiang Chengdao Properties Limited, the 54-storey Hangzhou Wangchao Center will become a gateway tower to Qianjang Century Town.
The skyscraper will add 125,000 square metres of office, hotel and retail space to a region that is undergoing accelerated growth. With a location next to one of the city's new subway stations, transport to the mixed-use development will be quick and easy.
The building's sculptural form and smooth glass surface is a result of an efficient structural system that implements eight mega-columns that slope outwards at the corners to minimize wind load and engender flexible floor plates. Secondary perimeter columns are employed as the corner columns move further apart. Just above the lobby, a Vierendeel transfer truss connects the secondary columns to the corner columns to create an airy entry point.
"The Hangzhou Wangchao Center's distinctive silhouette derives its form from an integrated design process that solves programmatic, structural, and environmental criteria," said SOM Design Partner Gary Haney. "Located at the intersection of several major transportation networks, the tower is a beacon of performance-driven design and is emblematic of Hangzhou's future as a new global destination."
The development is expected to be completed in 2021, one year prior to the Asian Games. Additional information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
