Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower. It is a 128-story, 632-meter (2,073 ft) megatall skyscraper located in the Lujiazui finance and trade zone of Pudong, Shanghai. As the tallest building in China and the third-tallest in the world, it forms a striking trio with the neighboring Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. The tower's design emphasizes sustainability and vertical urbanism, featuring nine cylindrical zones stacked atop one another, each with its own atrium.

History and development

The project was initiated by the Shanghai Municipal Government to further establish Lujiazui as a global financial hub. Planning began in the early 2000s, with the site officially selected adjacent to the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. The client, Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd., organized an international design competition, which was won by the American firm Gensler. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in November 2008, with major construction commencing shortly after. The development was a key part of Shanghai's preparation for the World Expo 2010, symbolizing the city's rapid economic growth and futuristic ambitions.

Design and architecture

The design, led by architect Jun Xia of Gensler, is defined by its spiraling, tapered form and double-skin façade. The shape, which twists 120 degrees from base to top, was engineered to reduce wind loads significantly. The façade consists of an inner layer for insulation and an outer layer of a glass curtain wall, creating a buffer zone for natural ventilation. Internally, the tower is divided into nine vertical zones, each housing a 12-to-15-story sky lobby, a concept inspired by the Vertical City. The asymmetrical top crowns the structure and houses the pinnacle for broadcasting and observation decks.

Construction and engineering

The primary contractor was the state-owned Shanghai Construction Group, with structural engineering by Thornton Tomasetti. A major challenge was constructing the deep foundation in the soft soil of the Yangtze River Delta; workers drove 980 foundation piles into the ground, anchored by a massive 60,000 cubic meter concrete mat. The core-wall jump-form system allowed the central concrete core to rise ahead of the steel outriggers and composite floor slabs. The project utilized a total of 220,000 tons of steel. The construction pace was rapid, with the tower reaching its full height in August 2013, followed by the installation of its final façade element.

Features and facilities

The tower functions as a vertical city, containing a mix of offices, retail, a luxury hotel, and cultural spaces. The lower zones are dedicated to premium office space for firms like Fosun International. The middle sections house the J Hotel Shanghai, operated by Jin Jiang International Hotels. The building features the world's fastest elevators, manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, which travel at 20.5 meters per second. Amenities include multiple observation decks, including the highest at 561 meters, numerous restaurants, and expansive sky gardens within the atriums that provide public green space.

Records and recognition

Upon completion, it set several world records, including the highest observation deck in a building and the fastest elevators. It was certified as the world's tallest building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 2015. The tower has received numerous accolades for its sustainable design, achieving a LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It has been featured in prominent media like the BBC and National Geographic and is a central icon in the skyline of Pudong, often photographed alongside the Huangpu River.

Category:Skyscrapers in Shanghai Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2015 Category:Gensler buildings and structures