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Gensler Design Will be China's Tallest Building

Green features include rainwater collection, wind turbines, and atrium sky gardens.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM

Shanghai Tower Gensler

Last week groundbreaking began on what will be--when completed in 2014--China's tallest building. Designed by global architecture and design firm Gensler, the 2,070-foot Shanghai Tower boasts extensive green features and is the last of the three giant towers planned for the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone. Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co. is the developer.

Conceived as nine cylindrical buildings stacked one atop another, the tower will include upscale office space, retail, a luxury hotel, and cultural venues. Looking for an adreniline rush? Step out on to the world’s highest non-enclosed observation deck, which will be built on the uppermost floors.

Green features include rainwater collection, energy produced by on-site wind turbines, nine atrium sky gardens between the tower's two facade layers, and a 24 percent reduction of wind loads. The latter will generate extensive savings in materials and construction costs.

The tower is expected to garner a high LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as certification from the China Green Building Committee.

"We hope Shanghai Tower inspires new ideas about what sustainable tall buildings can be," says Art Gensler, chairman of Gensler. "We’ve lined the perimeter of the tower, top to bottom, with public spaces, and we’ve integrated strategic environmental thinking into every move."

The Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone also includes the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Renderings courtesy of Gensler