Foster + Partners has revealed its new skyscraper for China Merchants Bank's Headquarters in Shenzhen, the 350-metre office tower will house the company’s 13,000 employees under one roof. 

The tower is the first building being approved in Shenzhen’s new prestigious Super Headquarters District. The new skyscraper will be complemented with a 180-metre-high luxury hotel and office, cultural and retail amenities, and green connections to the waterfront. Foster's new design is aimed to make a positive contribution to the Shenzhen Bay Area.

"The tower forms part of a new complex that connects with the next phase of the Shenzhen Bay development, featuring a well-connected urban square linked with the metro, retail, cultural spaces and Shenzhen Bay’s amazing waterfront," said Young Wei-Yang Chiu, Partner, Foster + Partners.

The 310,000 square-metre office tower will feature large-span column-free floorplates that are supported by offset cores on either side. Foster + Partners' proposes a unique structural solution that maximises flexibility in planning the office spaces, while also allowing the building to be lifted up off the ground at ground level to create seamless connections with the outside. 

The glazed façade is carefully designed to avoid downdrafts and make the open spaces on the ground floor more comfortable for pedestrians. The green plaza is lined with shops and restaurants and links to the waterfront, while the north side of the building provides a direct link to the metro. The podium level features a gallery area for art alongside sport and fitness facilities for employees.

"We are delighted to have been chosen by China Merchants Bank to design and engineer their new headquarters in Shenzhen Bay. 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," said Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. 

"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."

The top of the building will be open to the bank’s customers and invited members of the public, and are arranged around a quadruple height atrium, offering a gallery and event space alongside executive meeting and dining areas against the stunning backdrop of the Shenzhen Bay. 

The location of the split cores towards the east and west helps reduce solar gain and the rainwater harvesting systems will satisfy up to 70% of the water demand.

Foster + Partners is also working on DJI Headquarters in Shenzhen, alongside China Resources Land at the heart of the Shenzhen High-Tech Industrial Park. 

All images courtesy of Foster + Partners

> via Foster + Partners