Foster + Partners has completed the first office tower in the newly regenerated Suhewan area of Shanghai. The Suhe Centre for China Resources Land forms the centrepiece of the Suhewan East Urban Complex, which introduces a rich mix of functions to the predominantly residential area. The 200 metre, 42-storey signature tower is part of the city’s vision to draw development towards the eastern quarter.
The Suhe Centre has obtained LEED Platinum certification and has a Green Building 2 Star rating. This is due to a comprehensive sustainability strategy which includes recycling rainwater for irrigation, intelligent systems for optimising the indoor environment and air quality monitoring, bicycle parking and charging spaces.
Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The Suhe Centre plays a central role in activating Suhewan and creating a vibrant new piece of the city. The tower has been designed to enhance wellbeing, with plenty of natural light and open, column free workspaces. It offers great views of the Jing An district, the Historical Bund, Pudong Lujiazui and the Huangpu and Suhe rivers. Its flexible floorplates allow for a range of different layouts to support contemporary ways of working.”
The building is situated alongside a new urban public green area and Shanghai Suhe Centre MixC, with excellent connections to Line 10 Tiantong Road metro station, acting as a catalyst for bringing people and new businesses to the area. The expressed structure of the tower draws on the industrial aesthetic of the historical Zhejiang Road Bridge and nearby warehouse buildings. The tower’s dark glazing reduces reflective glare and contrasts with the stainless-steel structural frame, which has been pulled away from the corners to maximise views out.
Undulating wall panels inside the Tower lobby visually elongate the 11-metre-tall lobby space, creating a grand sense of arrival for the building’s occupants and visitors. Daylight filters through louvres above the entrance canopy to produce dancing shadows across the walls and floor. A unique reception desk is imprinted with a historic map of Suhe River, to commemorate the history of the site.
The lower levels of the tower capture views of the park to the west. As the building rises above the surrounding low-rise residential fabric it opens up to stunning 360-degree panoramic views. Every corner of the tower is a full-height glass space that frames a unique view of the city.
The column-free, flexible office floorplates have been designed to suit a variety of layouts, from single to multiple tenancies. Every level has detachable floor slabs to allow for connections between them. Along the western façade, the middle section of the building is recessed to allow natural light to flood the office spaces with a row of scenic lifts located within this recess to maximise views of the park and river.
Emily Phang, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, added: “It has been a great privilege to design the first office tower in Suhewan. We have worked closely with China Resources Land to create a landmark building that offers truly modern workspaces which prioritise city and park views, comfort and flexibility. The Suhe Centre is an exciting new addition to the city and an integral part of their vision to bring new business to the eastern quarter.”
