Wujiang ‘Breathing’ Tower

In today’s world of increasingly sophisticated design technology, it is rare to find an established architect/ client partnership that has consistently advanced the innovation of tall building design. Capitalizing on their successful collaboration on Zifeng Tower (formerly Nanjing Greenland Financial Center), the architecture, engineering, interior design and urban planning firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has since partnered with Shanghai’s Greenland Group on six important, high-profile additions to the Greenland portfolio: Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Central Plaza Parcel A, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Zifeng, Greenland Center Dawangjing and Greenland Group Suzhou Center, as well as several design competitions.

Each of these projects represents the nearly decade-long collaborative partnership between the SOM and Greenland teams and their unified goal to create landmark towers for new urban areas in China. These towers are designed to anchor large developments and act as world-class monuments within these new districts, while also introducing new technologies that are setting precedents for the design of tall buildings in China and throughout the world.

This article focuses on the most recent addition to the team’s collaborative portfolio. At 358 meters, Greenland Group Suzhou Center marks the Wujiang waterfront with an aerodynamic form that has a unique presence while accommodating its program with economy and efficiency. The design incorporates passive ventilation techniques through a unique interior “lung,” creating an efficient “breathing” tower. “The Suzhou Center stands at the confluence of contemporary form and function, adapting techniques from the world of high-performance automobile design to facilitate environmental concerns within a singular architectural form.” – Ross Wimer, FAIA, SOM Design Director.

Site and Context
With a total building area of more than 284,000 square meters, Greenland Group Suzhou Center will become the defining visual landmark for the new Wujiang lakefront development and, by extension, for the city as a whole. Sited prominently along Lake Taihu in the Jiangsu province of China, the building’s dynamic tapering form effectively unifies its office and residential uses within a gently curved volume that culminates in a 30-story tall opening which marks the tower’s presence on the city skyline.

Like many of the SOM towers now being designed for Greenland, this building is in the first phase of a new development that encompasses many city blocks. It needs to be the catalyst that encourages other developers to follow. Since the adjacent blocks have yet to be developed the Suzhou Center will function as a “city within the city.” With office, retail, residential and hotel uses, the complex is active throughout the day.

Although housing a mix of uses within a tower is a complex task to design and construct, by stacking the uses and providing shuttle elevators to access sky lobbies for each program, the core works efficiently. At ground level, separate lobbies insure that each use can operate independently. Shaped by the prevailing views, prominent wind direction and environmental performance factors, the design and positioning of the tower contribute to defining a place of memorable and lasting value.

The design takes full advantage of its unique and dramatic location immediately adjacent to the lake as well as the pedestrian promenade which defines the heart of the Wujiang central business district. The designers’ decision to orient the tower in the east-west direction is in direct response to two environmental factors – the wind and sun. Elongating the tower in the eastwest direction takes advantage of solar radiation at the times of the day when it is most beneficial, while minimizing the impact when it is least advantageous.

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Authors: Ross Wimer, Director, William Baker, Partner, Mark Nagis, Associate,
Aaron Mazeika , Associate Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)