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The internationally-acclaimed architecture studio Foster + Partners has emerged victorious following a design competition that envisioned a soaring new headquarters for China Merchants Bank. Foster's winning proposal for the immense glass and concrete jungle of Shenzhen rises to an apex of 350 metres, adding yet another supertall to an unshakeable national collection of skyscrapers.
The 310,000-square-metre office tower is the first building to be approved in the city's Super Headquarters District. To provide an ultramodern workplace for the company's 13,000 employees, the tower's column-free floor plates minimize disruptive interior barriers, with structural support being provided by offset cores on either side. This composition allows the building to be elevated off the ground to enhance indoor-outdoor connections, while a glazed envelope designed to avoid downdrafts maximizes pedestrian comfort.
The main tower will be complemented by a 180-metre-tall twin that will house more office space and a luxury hotel. The complex will feature a direct connection to Shenzhen's metro system, and a green plaza sandwiched between shops and restaurants linked to the waterfront. The building's podium will contain sport and fitness areas for employees and an art gallery. The pinnacle of the tower, arranged around a quadruple height atrium, hosts additional gallery spaces, plus event and dining areas.
"We are delighted to have been chosen by China Merchants Bank to design and engineer their new headquarters in Shenzhen Bay," said Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. "The tower's design represents a significant step in the evolution of the workplace, which we have evolved in close partnership with the client to create a highly flexible floorplate that can be adjusted to their fast-changing needs and provide an excellent working environment for their staff. The building will be a symbol of the bank’s premier status in the industry, embodying its strong legacy while looking firmly towards the future."
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