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Shanghai Tower / Gensler

Shanghai Tower  / Gensler - Cityscape

  • Curated by ArchDaily
  • Architects: Gensler
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2015
  • Photographs Photographs: Gensler/Shen Zhonghai
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Kuraray
  • Architect of Record: Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University (Group) Co., Ltd.
  • Client:  Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co., Ltd
  • Owner:  Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co., Ltd.
  • Interior Designer:  Gensler (Retail, Public Space)
  • Engineers (Structural, Civil, Mechanical, Etc ):  Structural: Thornton Tomasetti; MEP: Cosentini; Wind Tunnel Testing: Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin (RWDI)
  • Vertical Transportation:  Edgett Williams Consulting Group, Inc. (EWCG)
  • Fire Protection And Life Safety:  RJA Fire Protection Technology Consulting (RJA)
  • Building Façade:  Aurecon Engineer Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.(Aurecon)
  • Landscape:  SWA
  • Lighting:  PHA /Tower; BPI/ Podium, Crown and Interior
  • Acoustical:  SM&W
  • Parking:  Walker Parking Consultants
  • General Contractor:  Shanghai Construction Group (SCG)
  • Steel Structure Construction:  Shanghai Mechanized Construction Corporation Ltd.,(SMCC)
  • Curtain Wall Contractor:  Yuanda (Exterior curtain wall); Jiangho (interior curtain wall); Lingyun(Podium curtain wall)
  • Structural System:  Super Column-Concrete Core-Outrigger
  • Total Above Grade:  380,000 m2
  • Below Grade:  196,000 m2
  • Total Project Cost:  $2.2 Billion
  • Total Construction Cost:  $1.54 Billion
  • City:  Shanghai
  • Country:  China

Shanghai Tower  / Gensler - Cityscape

Text description provided by the architects. Vertical Urbanism.Shanghai Tower is designed to embrace and stimulate the life of the city. Yet, instead of parks spread horizontally across the city, the tower provides gathering spaces stacked vertically. These are the innovative sky gardens that set the building apart from any highrise ever built. By emphasizing public space and locating shops, restaurants and urban amenities at the atrium levels, Shanghai Tower provides a new experience for living and working in super tall towers.

Shanghai Tower  / Gensler - Glass

Why this shape? Gensler’s design team anticipated that three key strategies—the tower’s asymmetrical form, its tapering profile and its rounded corners—would allow the building to withstand the typhoon-force winds that are common in Shanghai.

shanghai tower china case study

Using wind tunnel tests conducted in a Canadian lab, Gensler and structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti refined the tower’s form, which reduced building wind loads by 24 percent. The result is a lighter structure that saved $58 million in costly materials.            

Shanghai Tower  / Gensler - Stairs, Steel

The Outer Skin. Constructing a complex building shape that had never before been conceived required the most innovative tools. Designed with 20,000 + curtain wall panels—including more than 7,000 unique shapes—the façade would have been challenging to envision using traditional computer-aided design tools. With parametric software, however, Gensler was able to create a system that balances performance, constructability, maintenance and design. Precise tolerances were achieved by placing lasers on the site to take measurements.

Project gallery

Shanghai Tower  / Gensler - Cityscape

Project location

Address: 100 shi ji da dao, lujiazui, pudong xinqu, shanghai shi, china, 200120.

Click to open map

Materials and Tags

  • Sustainability

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© Gensler/Shen Zhonghai

上海中心 / Gensler

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Case Study: BIM implementation in Shanghai Tower

BIM implementation in Shanghai Tower : China recently witnessed an architectural revolution especially in skyscrapers and stadium construction. China outdid its expectations and has the largest number of skyscrapers. Among this list of the top 22 tallest buildings in the world , 10 skyscrapers are in China! One of these buildings is the Shanghai tower, a mega tall skyscraper with more than 600-meter height. This structure is the tallest tower in China and the second tallest building in the world .

What is the biggest tower in China?

BIM implementation in Shanghai Tower : China recently witnesses an architectural revolution especially in skyscrapers and stadium construction. It is expected in 2015 that 106 buildings of 200 meters or greater will be completed in China . One of these buildings is the Shanghai tower, a mega tall skyscraper with more than 600-meter height. This structure will be the tallest tower in China and the second tallest building in the world.

1. Record-breaker: ‘Shanghai Tower’ The World’s Second Tallest Building Completed in Shanghai

2. Piercing the Sky – What is the Tallest Building in the World?

3. Jeddah Tower: 10 Things to Know About The World’s Tallest Building in 2020

BIM

Sizing Up the Tallest Skyscraper of 2020

The design and construction process of a mega tall tower is a very difficult and complicated project. Such projects need proficient qualified project management that can coordinate effectively between the different teams. The tower is a considerable example of successful outstanding management for this type of skyscraper.

shanghai tower china case study

Sizing Up the Tallest Skyscraper of 2015

What is inside Shanghai Tower?

The tower is a multi-functional building. It includes nine different functional zones with 7 structural systems and more than 30 electrical, mechanical, and intelligent subsystems. It is a complicated structure that requires a large number of specialists and professions in different disciplines to come together. Hence, the project employed more than 30 consulting companies in architectural structure, mechanical and electrical engineering, fire protection, and curtain wall design. It also contracted with a dozen of subcontractors in foundation, structure, and machinery.

shanghai tower china case study

photograph by © Gensler/Shen Zhonghai

This huge number of employees and specialists put the project managers in front of a challenge to find an effective strategy for the coordination system. They search for an effective information technology that achieves a flexible unison between all disciplines through one unified platform. For this goal, they adopted BIM technology.

shanghai tower china case study

Courtesy of Gensler

Building Background

The tower is located in Lujiazui district, in Pudong, and is considered one of the leading financial centers in East Asia. Gensler Company designed the tower through an international multi-staged design competition. The tower is considered one of three distinct buildings that present the past, present, and future of Shanghai city . The design was inspired by Shanghai traditions, and its spiraling form presents the dynamic emergence of modern China.

shanghai tower china case study

The tower is 632 meters in height with 121 stories. It vertically divided into 9 functional zones, each zone rises 12 to 15 floors with a public space balcony within curtain walls. The lowest ground zone occupied by an open market that connects the tower with the surrounded activities and Shanghai’s Metro, whereas the podium zone involves stores and restaurants . The offices occupy the middle zone while the hotel was placed at the top with the observation deck. The construction of the building started in 2009 and it is predicted to be opened in 2015.

shanghai tower china case study

Overview of BIM Implementation

As we know, BIM technology has proven lately valuable efficiency in the systematization of different construction projects mainly in collaboration, coordination, and sharing data. It unifies the platform for all disciplines to share their design files. It is an effective information system that creates a database for all design and construction phases.

This database considers the DNA of the building and can be a reference for future maintenance and development . For that reason, Shanghai’s Tower Construction & Development decided to employ this technology in operating the design, structure, and construction processes of the tower. Jianping Gu, director and general manager of the company explains, “We knew that if we tried to work in a traditional way, using traditional tools and delivery systems, it would be extremely difficult to carry out this project successfully.”

shanghai tower china case study

Accordingly, the BIM application system was implemented and run since the first phase of the project at the end of 2008. Autodesk applications were chosen for the system by applying Revit Architecture , Structure, and MEP software for the design and documentation processes. Whereas Autodesk Naviswork Manage software was used to facilitate the coordination between the employees.

Ecotect Analysis was also utilized for environmental analysis. In addition, Autodesk Consulting implemented an on-site BIM environment for the local team and afforded training and support services. “By combining Autodesk’s BIM technology and the deep expertise of Autodesk Consulting, we have been able to successfully transition to BIM much faster. As a result, this project has set new standards for the information management of construction projects in China,” says Gu.

shanghai tower china case study

Shanghai Tower’s Geometry

The flowing spiraling form of the tower was generated from a rounded triangular plan. This rounded triangle was derived from the relationship between the curved bank of Huangpu River, Jin Mao Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center. This attractive and distinctive form will be a milestone in Shanghai city for representing China as a global financial power.

shanghai tower china case study

Gensler Company designed the tower according to three main components that are parametrically modified and twisted:

1. Horizontal Profile:

It is shaped like an equilateral triangle with smooth edges derived from two tangential curves. There are two variables that shaped the profile: The radius of the large circle and its location to the center of the equilateral triangle.

shanghai tower china case study

photograph by © Blackstation

    2. Vertical Profile:

It is modeled by tapering the ground horizontal profile with the upper one, which resulted in a right circular cone. The taper operation supported the function of the building. The wide lower profile afforded wide spans for the market and offices, whereas the slender upper plans provided short spans for the hotel.

shanghai tower china case study

3. Rate of Twist:

It is a linear rotation operation from the base to the top. This process used different rotation angles to find out the best angle for the design.

shanghai tower china case study

The design team generated a number of alternatives for the geometry depending on two variables: the percentage of tapering operation and the angle of a twisting process. They built two models with different scales; 1:85 and 1:500. These models were examined by Wind Tunnel Test to determine the best alternative design that can bear the wind loads.

The test concluded that the form should be tapered 55% and twisted 120 o . These values create a geometry that reduces 24% in structural wind loads and cladding pressure and saves 50 $ million USD from the structure budget. After all, we notice that the design process of the Shanghai tower was not simple and effortless. It is undergone many studies and experiments that resulted in a light elegant transparent tower that achieved 32% saving of the estimated materials for its construction.

shanghai tower china case study

Courtsey of Gensler

  • [i] Safarik, Daniel, Antony Woods, Marty Carver, and Marshall Gerometta. “An All-Time Record 97 Buildings of 200 Meters or Higher Completed in 2014.” CTBUH 2014 Year in Review Report, The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, (2014).  www.ctbuh.org
  • [ii] Ge, Qing. “BIM Applications in the Shanghai Tower Construction.” CTBUH 2012 9th World Congress, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Shanghai, China (2012).
  • [iii] Gensler. “Design Update of Shanghai Tower.” Gensler Publications, (2010) www.gensler.com
  • [iv] The Skyscrapers Center. “Shanghai Tower.” The Global Data Base of CTBUH,(2015). www.skyscraperscenter.com
  • [v] Autodesk. “Rising the New Heights with BIM.” Autodesk. Inc, (2012). www.autodesk.com/bim.
  • [vi] Zeljic, Aleksandar. “Shanghai Tower, Façade Design Process.” 2010 International Conference on Building Envelope Systems and Technologies, Vancouver, Canada, (2010).

shanghai tower china case study

Tags: Architectural Models Architecture Model BIM BIM Architecture BIM Implementation BIM Modeling Design Software Gensler In Depth List of Tallest Buildings list of tallest buildings in the world Shanghai Shanghai Tower Tallest tallest building in the world Tallest buildings Tallest Buildings in the world Tallest Skyscraper Tower world tallest building

shanghai tower china case study

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RTF | Rethinking The Future

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building

shanghai tower china case study

Gensler is a multinational architecture firm with the highest revenues and largest workforce in the world. Gensler is committed to creating meaningful and lasting change in the communities where they live and work through social responsibility and civic participation. They are dedicated to developing innovative methods and solutions that will shape the future of design. Currently, their main focus is to build net-zero structures that have less impact on the environment and contribute less to climate change , which is one of the biggest problems. They provide data and analytics to help clients understand their carbon footprint, energy use, performance, and ESG goals. You help clients identify environmental and climate goals and develop climate protection strategies. Their current goal is to build and establish a portfolio of as many CO2-negative buildings as possible by 2030. The Shanghai Tower is one of several structures developed by the company that has received LEED certification .

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building - Sheet1

The 632-meter Shanghai Tower, built by Gensler and located next to the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center in the center of the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, is China’s tallest structure.

The tower’s translucent, spiral design, as the city’s most visible landmark, shows cutting-edge sustainability solutions and public areas that establish new benchmarks for green communities. Shanghai Tower has Class A office space, entertainment venues, shops, a conference hall, a luxury hotel, and cultural amenity areas across 127 stories. The Shanghai tower has a China Green Building Three Star rating as well as a LEED® Platinum Certification from the U.s. Green Building Council.

The main concept | Shanghai Towers

Vertical Urbanization is a term used to describe a type of urbanism, Shanghai Tower was built to embrace and energize the city’s vitality. However, rather than parks strewn over the city, the skyscraper offers vertically stacked meeting areas. The building’s distinctive sky gardens make it different from any other highrise ever erected. Shanghai Tower offers a novel experience for living and working in ultra-tall skyscrapers by emphasizing public space and placing stores, restaurants, and urban amenities on the atrium levels.

With a height of 562 meters, it holds the record for having the world’s tallest observation deck within a building or structure (together with the Ping An Finance Center). The Bund, Huangpu River, and the Oriental Pearl Tower are visible from the Shanghai Tower Observation Deck.

Until 2017, it held the world’s second-fastest elevators, with a peak speed of 20.5 meters per second (74 kilometers per hour; 46 miles per hour).It is the highest of the world’s first triple-adjacent supertall structures in Pudong, with the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. It is owned by the Shanghai Municipal Government. Its tiered architecture, which is engineered for maximum energy efficiency, has nine distinct zones for office , retail, and recreational usage.

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building - Sheet2

Major design decisions & challenges in structure

Three major tactics proposed by Gensler’s design team—the tower’s asymmetrical form, tapering profile, and rounded corners—were expected to allow the structure to survive the typhoon-force winds that are frequent in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building - Sheet3

Gensler and structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti modified the tower’s shape using wind tunnel studies done in a Canadian facility, resulting in a 24 percent reduction in building wind loads. As a result, the construction is lighter, saving $58 million in materials costs.

The most energy savings will come from the structure of the building itself, which will be efficient and cost-effective.

shanghai tower china case study

They created more than 20 design solutions using Revit Structure before settling on a structural system of super-columns with outrigger trusses supported by an inner concrete tower.

To assess the structure’s resistance to wind and seismic stresses, the team continued to iterate the design, including the rotation angle of the building’s cam-shaped outer skin.

The work was certainly worth it in the end.According to Gensler, the building employs 32% less material than a traditional tower, reducing both material costs and energy used to create more steel and concrete.

The triangular and spherical double-skin is, after all, a determined and purposeful design choice. While some office space is lost, it is vital for some of the building’s distinctive features.

Consider thermodynamics. The extra layer transforms the tower into a giant Thermos bottle. As a result, the Shanghai Tower consumes 50% LESS energy than the national average to maintain its ideal temperature. When the outside temperature drops to roughly 7 degrees Celsius in January, the air inside may reach 14 degrees without the need for central heating. Second, the twisting form decreases wind load by 24%. If you’re going to construct anything this high in a typhoon-prone location, that’s critical.

The Exterior Skin | Shanghai Towers

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building - Sheet4

Constructing a complicated building form that had never been seen before necessitated the use of cutting-edge technology. The façade would have been difficult to imagine using typical computer-aided design methods, with over 20,000 curtain wall panels and over 7,000 distinct forms. Gensler, on the other hand, was able to establish a system that balances performance, construction methods, maintenance , and design using parametric software. Lasers were used to take measurements on the site, resulting in extremely close tolerances.

shanghai tower china case study

The sustainable measures

The skyscraper was dubbed “the greenest super high-rise structure on earth at this moment in time” by a Gensler spokeswoman in 2013.

Rainwater is collected for internal use, and a portion of the building’s wastewater is recycled. The glass façade of the skyscraper, which twists 120 degrees as it rises, is expected to lessen wind loads on the structure by 24 percent. Although conventional power systems will provide the majority of the tower’s energy, 270 vertical-axis wind turbines located in the facade and near the top of the tower are capable of generating up to 350,000 kWh of supplemental electricity per year and are expected to meet 10% of the building’s electrical needs. The double-layered insulating glass façade, which is made of sophisticated reinforced glass with a high-temperature tolerance, was designed to lessen the demand for inside air conditioning.

Furthermore, the building’s heating and cooling systems are powered by geothermal energy. Rain and wastewater are also recycled to flush toilets and irrigate the green zones of the skyscraper.

The landscaped sky gardens where people can relax in open space_©Gensler

After construction issues | Shanghai Towers

The Shanghai Tower has had a slew of issues. The most striking feature is the very low occupancy rate. This was due to several factors. The building’s twisted glass exterior, which was designed to reduce wind loads, resulted in an unsuitable floor plan , requiring tenants to pay for enormous swaths of unused space.

References:

  • News.cgtn.com. 2022. Has World’s 2nd Tallest Building Failed? The pros and cons of Shanghai Tower’s unique design. [online] Available at: <https://news.cgtn.com/news/79416a4e32514464776c6d636a4e6e62684a4856/index.html> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
  • www.gensleron.com. (n.d.). Urban Planning and Design – architecture and design. [online] Available at: http://www.gensleron.com/cities/tag/shanghai-tower-construction-update [Accessed 3 Jun. 2022].
  • Gensler. 2022. Shanghai Tower | Projects | Gensler. [online] Available at: <https://www.gensler.com/projects/shanghai-tower> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
  • ArchDaily. 2022. Shanghai Tower / Gensler. [online] Available at: <https://www.archdaily.com/783216/shanghai-tower-gensler> [Accessed 3 June 2022].
  • Gensleron.com. 2022. Shanghai Tower Update: Lighting the Building and Preparing it for Occupancy  – Urban Planning and Design – architecture and design. [online] Available at: <http://www.gensleron.com/cities/2015/2/2/shanghai-tower-update-lighting-the-building-and-preparing-it.html> [Accessed 4 June 2022].
  • 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2016/01/11/shanghai-tower-gensler-world-second-tallest-building/> [Accessed 4June 2022].
  • Nast, C., 2022. How the Architecture Industry Is Reacting to Climate Change. [online] Architectural Digest. Available at: <https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/climate-change-design-architecture> [Accessed 5 June 2022].

The Shanghai Towers by Gensler: China’s tallest building - Sheet1

Sakshi Jain is a fifth-year architecture student at the Mysore School of Architecture in Mysuru. She believes in creating experiences and exploring - big and small - which explains her love of language. With a rekindled love of reading and a desire to travel, she intends to go places and share her experiences.

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shanghai tower china case study

The shanghai tower is one of the leading financial centers in East Asian countries. The tower is located in the Lujiazui district, in Pudong. The construction of the tower started in 2009.

Gensler Architects designed The Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is popular for its Lujiazui skyline. This tower adds more glory to it. It is the world’s second-tallest building with a height of 632 meters (2073 ft.). It incorporates 127 floors. The tower’s design is in such a way that the general public gathering areas are vertical rather than spreading horizontally across the city.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

Public areas like retailers, restaurants, and different urban amenities are on higher levels. This is to provide a whole new experience of living and working. Gensler Company designed the tower through a global multi-staged design competition. Moreover, it is one of the three important buildings representing the past, present, and future of Shanghai city.

Case study of Shanghai tower

Evolution of form:, structural system of shanghai tower:, geometry of tower:, vertical zoning of shanghai tower:, bim implementation in shanghai tower:, sustainable technique at shanghai tower:.

The Chinese economic reforms began within the 1980s. They have remodeled the Lujiazui district in Shanghai from farmland to financial center in just two decades. The speedy urbanization then needed new designing and planning methods to foster the high-density development. Each one of them has its own ‘sky garden’ for interacting. It also creates a sense of community. In the case of towers, the dwelling is vertically one over the other rather than horizontally.

shanghai tower china case study

As per the government bye-laws, 33% of the total site area is under landscaping. However, the idea behind the landscape design comes from the precedents of temples, towers, palaces settle amidst gardens. Moreover, the park designed at the base of the tower connects the architecture of the structure with nature. This encouraged the people to engage with the variety of outdoor spaces and enjoy the landscape. This park can accommodate large gatherings as well as intimate conversations.

  • Architects : Gensler
  • City : Shanghai
  • Country : China
  • Year : 2015
  • Total Above Grade: 380,000 m2
  • Below Grade: 196,000 m2
  • Client : Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co., Ltd
  • Interior Designer: Gensler (Retail, Public Space)
  • Structural Engineer : Thornton Tomasetti
  •   MEP : Cosentini
  •   Wind Tunnel Testing : Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin (RWDI)
  • Vertical Transportation: Edgett Williams Consulting Group, Inc. (EWCG)
  • Fire Protection and Life Safety: RJA Fire Protection Technology Consulting (RJA)
  • Building Façade: Aurecon Engineer Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Aurecon)
  • Landscape: SWA
  • Lighting: PHA /Tower; BPI/ Podium, Crown and Interior
  • Acoustical: SM&W
  • Parking: Walker Parking Consultants
  • General Contractor: Shanghai Construction Group (SCG)
  • Steel Structure Construction: Shanghai Mechanized Construction Corporation Ltd., (SMCC)
  • Curtain Wall Contractor: Yuanda (Exterior curtain wall); Jiangho (interior curtain wall); Lingyun (Podium curtain wall)
  • Structural System: Super Column-Concrete Core-Outrigger Consultants
  • Total Project Cost : $2.2 Billion
  • Total Construction Cost : $1.54 Billion

Shanghai majorly experience typhoon-force winds. Also, it is an active earthquake zone and the soil is clayey, typical of a river delta. Keeping these constraints in mind, the structural engineers sought to simplify the building structure. Also, the architect followed three key strategies to allow the building to withstand these winds. They are asymmetrical form, tapering profile, rounded corners. Apart from this, the design of the tower is inspired by Shanghai traditions. Moreover, the spirals depict the dynamic emergence of modern China.

Architect Gensler and structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti conducted a wind tunnel test in a Canadian lab to refine the tower’s form. This resulted in a lighter structure which reduced wind loads by 24 percent. Also reduced the construction cost by $58 million in costly materials.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

The building form was complex. Thus, the conventional computer-aided design tools were not sufficient for the designing purpose of the façade. Moreover, the facade has 20,000+ curtain wall panels including 7000 unique shapes. The architect used parametric software to create a system. This system balances performance, constructability, maintenance, and design. Lasers take measurements with precise tolerances.

shanghai tower china case study

Also, Read Kanchanjunga Apartments by Charles Correa: A climate-based

The core of the tower is concrete about 30 meters square. The core acts in harmony with the outrigger and super column system. Also, there are four pairs of super columns, one at each end of each orthonormal axis. In addition to this, there are four diagonals along each 45-degree axis as there is long-distance at the base between the main orthogonal columns. As a result, the 50 meters distance is reduced to 25 meters.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

The spiral form was generated from a rounded triangular plan. Also, this unique form was inspired by the relationship between the curved bank of Huangpu River, Jin Mao Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

In addition, the tower was designed according to three main components which were parametrically modified and twisted.

  • Horizontal profile:

The horizontal profile of the tower is an equilateral triangle with smooth edges. In addition, this is derived from two tangential curves. Two variables are responsible for shaping the profile of the tower. They are the radius of the large circle and its location to the center of the equilateral triangle.

  • Vertical profile:

The lower profile of the tower is wide accommodating the market and office spaces whereas the upper plans have a short span for the hotels. The vertical profile of the tower is formed by tapering the ground horizontal profile with the upper one. This resulted in a right circular cone.

  • Rate of twist:

Furthermore, different rotation angles were used to find out the best angle for the design. The architect worked on two variables to generate different alternatives for the geometry of the tower. They are the percentage of tapering operation and the angle of a twisting process. Two different models on the scale of 1:85 and 1:500 are examined using wind tunnel tests to determine the best design that can bear the wind loads.

As a result, the form is tapered by 55% and twisted by 120 degrees. This resulted in a light elegant tower which saved 32% of the estimated construction materials.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

The tower consists of 121storeys and 9 vertical zones. Further, each zone divides into 12-15 floors with a public space balcony within curtain walls. The lowest ground zone is occupied by an open market that connects the tower with outside spaces like Shanghai’s metro.

shanghai tower china case study

Also, Read The Aqua tower , dynamic and bracketed, by Studio Gang.

Also, the podium zone is occupied by stores and restaurants. The middle zone has offices. Also, the top zone has hotels with observation decks. Each office zone has a sky garden for community gatherings.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

The shanghai tower is the tallest tower in China. Also the second tallest in the world after Burj Khalifa in Dubai. An architecture revolution is going in China currently especially in the skyscrapers and stadium construction. The tower is a remarkable and efficient work of project management. A mega tall tower which is one of its kind needs proper management and coordination of all the different teams working together at the same time.

The tower is a multi-functional building with 9 different functional zones (market, offices, shops, hotels). Moreover, it has 7 different structural systems. Also, more than 30 electrical, mechanical and intelligent subsystems. The construction of the tower employed more than 30 consulting companies in architecture, structure, mechanical and electrical engineering, fire protection, curtain wall design, and a dozen of subcontractors in structure, foundation, and masonry.

All this came together with help of an effective project management team. It was a big challenge for the project managers to find an effective strategy for the coordination system. Also, the search ended on the Building Information Technology (BIM). Moreover, this technology helped in achieving flexible unison between all disciplines through one platform.

BIM is a unified platform that allows all the disciplines of design to share their files. It also helps in collaborating, coordinating, and sharing data. Moreover, it creates a database for all design and construction phases.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

Shanghai Tower is a sustainable tall building. It is a LEED gold-rated as well as China 3 star rated building. Also, there is a transparent second skin that wraps the whole building. It reduces the heat gain in the building. Ventilated atriums conserve energy by adjusting the temperature within the void. This space acts as a buffer between the outside and inside. This keeps the cold air warm when it enters the tower in winters. Also, dissipates heat from the tower in summers keeping the space cool.

Additionally, a water treatment plant is present on-site that recycles greywater and stormwater. This water further goes into flush and irrigation. To reduce pumping energy, a water treatment plant is present at the basement as well as podium levels within the tower.

Additionally, the domestic water system uses an interim water storage tank within the towers. This also allows gravity to maintain the water pressure. Low-pressure pumps pump water to each tank in a cascading arrangement. This reduced the source water consumption by 38%.

In conclusion, the Shanghai Tower is shaping the role of tall buildings for many years to come.

Sustainably advanced tall building: Shanghai tower, China.

Also, Read Petronas twin towers

shanghai tower china case study

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Case III: Shanghai Tower: Lean Innovation Powered by Leading Technologies

  • First Online: 14 December 2018

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shanghai tower china case study

  • Xiaoming Zhu 2  

Part of the book series: Management for Professionals ((MANAGPROF))

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On April 26, 2017, the sightseeing deck on the 118th floor of the spiral-shaped Shanghai Tower was opened to the public. The Shanghai Tower, whose curved form makes a 120-degree rotation, is the second-tallest building in the world and tallest building in China. Since the sightseeing platform’s inauguration, Gu Jianping, the general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd. (STCD) has often been seen ambling around the crowded ticket off ice, pondering about how crowd management can be improved so as to deliver a better experience to visitors.

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Bored piling is a method that involves boring a circular hole into the ground, installing steel reinforcement and filling the bore hole with concrete to form a pile.

Wind load is the pressure extended by the wind against the surface of a structure.

Project verification referred to an agreement between the project management company and the contractor on things like payments, design change, construction extension, oil price change, and compensation according to the contract or convention.

Sanwen.net. BIM: Concept and History [EB-OL]. (2016–09–18) [2017–05–10]. http://sanwen.net/a/xdqkcoo.html .

Clash detection allows for the effective identification, inspection and reporting of interferences in a 3D project model.

Lu Dili, CEIBS President’s Off ice.

Shao Qirui, CEIBS MBA17 student; Assistant general manager of the Parkland Group Investment & Development Centre.

Acknowledgements

This case is co-authored by Professor Zhu Xiaoming, Case Writer Zhu Qiong, Research Fellow Ni Yingzi, Research Assistant Shi Tianyu of China Europe International Business School. It is written with great support from Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd. (STCD). The case study is intended to stimulate classroom discussion, and not to analyze how effectively the company is managed.

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Zhu, X. (2019). Case III: Shanghai Tower: Lean Innovation Powered by Leading Technologies. In: Emerging Champions in the Digital Economy . Management for Professionals. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2628-8_5

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Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower | The tallest LEED-certified building and the second tallest building in the world overall

Shanghai, China Supertall

2,073 feet (632 meters) tall.

The tower stands in the heart of the Lujiazui Financial Zone in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area and covers a total construction area of 6,221,540 square feet (578,000 square meters) featuring retail facilities, entertainment and cultural amenities, a conference center, and the world’s tallest LEED-certified hotel, the J Hotel.

The tower’s shell has transparent double walls that insulate, allow for air ventilation and let in sunlight. There are green spaces in and around the building, with extensive landscaping that comprises one-third of the space. The whole project uses 80% less energy for heating and cooling than equivalent towers.

chinatripedia

Water collection system in Shanghai Tower

water collection system in shanghai tower

Shanghai Tower , located in the Pudong district of Shanghai , China, is one of the tallest buildings in the world, standing at a height of 632 meters. The building is equipped with advanced technology and sustainable features, including a water collection system that efficiently collects, purifies, and recycles rainwater.

The water collection system in Shanghai Tower is designed to reduce the building’s water consumption by up to 60%. The tower’s curved design allows rainwater to collect in the building’s atrium, which acts as a giant funnel. The rainwater is then channeled through a series of filters, which remove impurities and contaminants. The purified water is then stored in a tank located in the basement of the building.

The collected rainwater is used for a variety of purposes, including irrigation, toilet flushing, and cooling tower makeup. The tower’s cooling system, which is responsible for regulating the temperature of the building, uses a significant amount of water. By using rainwater instead of freshwater for cooling, the tower is able to significantly reduce its water consumption.

In addition to the rainwater collection system, the building also utilizes a greywater recycling system. Greywater is wastewater generated from sources other than toilets, such as sinks and showers. The greywater is treated and recycled for non-potable uses, such as flushing toilets and irrigation.

Overall, the water collection system in Shanghai Tower is a prime example of sustainable building design. By reducing the building’s reliance on freshwater sources and maximizing the use of recycled water, the tower is able to conserve resources and minimize its environmental impact.

Other Interesting Facts

  • Who designed Shanghai Tower
  • How many floors does Shanghai Tower have?
  • The substructure of Shanghai Tower
  • When was the Shanghai Tower built
  • Shanghai Tower vs Burj Khalifa – similarities and differences
  • Sustainability in the design of shanghai
  • Gardens in shanghai tower

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