The world’s tallest twisting tower, and second tallest building overall, Shanghai Tower, was recently selected by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as the 2016 winner of the “Best Tall Building Worldwide” award.
Shanghai Tower was selected from among 3 other towers that won a Best Tall Building award for their region (and from 132 entries overall). Shanghai Tower represented the Asia & Australasia region. The other three regional winners were VIA 57 West, from the Americas; The White Walls, from Europe; and The Cube, from the Middle East and Africa.
Mixing an innovative design scheme with traditional Shanghainese architectural elements impressed the jury. For example, the multi-story atria between the double-skin façade takes the concept of shikumen, a housing style that blends indoor and outdoor space, and uses it on a much larger scale.
Of Shanghai Tower and its atria and double-skin façade, jury member Antony Wood, Executive Director, CTBUH said in a press release, “It contains the world’s first truly ‘inhabitable’ double-skin façade on a skyscraper, which is not only remarkable for its intended greenery, but its incorporation into the tower’s overall ventilation strategy. The sacrifice of valuable floor area to realize this social amenity proves that the aspirations for Shanghai Tower went far beyond mere commercial gain.”
Shanghai Tower was designed by Gensler and completed construction in 2015.
For the full list of the 2016 CTBUH award winners, click here.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Apr 4, 2024
Sustainable mixed-use districts: Crafting urban communities
As a part of the revitalization of a Seattle neighborhood, Graphite Design Group designed a sustainable mixed-use community that exemplifies resource conversation, transportation synergies, and long-term flexibility.
Office Buildings | Apr 2, 2024
SOM designs pleated façade for Star River Headquarters for optimal daylighting and views
In Guangzhou, China, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed the recently completed Star River Headquarters to minimize embodied carbon, reduce energy consumption, and create a healthy work environment. The 48-story tower is located in the business district on Guangzhou’s Pazhou Island.
High-rise Construction | Feb 23, 2024
Designing a new frontier in Seattle’s urban core
Graphite Design Group shares the design for Frontier, a 540,000-sf tower in a five-block master plan for Seattle-based tech leader Amazon.
Luxury Residential | Feb 1, 2024
Luxury 16-story condominium building opens in Chicago
The Chicago office of architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) yesterday announced the completion of Embry, a 58-unit luxury condominium building at 21 N. May St. in Chicago’s West Loop.
Biophilic Design | Jan 16, 2024
New supertall Manhattan tower features wraparound green terraces
At 66 stories and 1,031.5 ft high, The Spiral is BIG’s first supertall building and first commercial high-rise in New York.
Products and Materials | Nov 30, 2023
Top building products for November 2023
BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from horizontal sliding windows to discreet indoor air infusers.
Senior Living Design | Nov 7, 2023
Age-restricted affordable housing community opens in Rockville, Md.
Residences on the Lane boasts a total of 150 units, each designed to cater to various income levels for seniors aged 62 and up.
Luxury Residential | Oct 18, 2023
One Chicago wins 2023 International Architecture Award
One Chicago, a two-tower luxury residential and mixed-use complex completed last year, has won the 2023 International Architecture Award. The project was led by JDL Development and designed in partnership between architecture firms Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture.
Office Buildings | Oct 16, 2023
The impact of office-to-residential conversion on downtown areas
Gensler's Duanne Render looks at the incentives that could bring more office-to-residential conversions to life.
Office Buildings | Sep 28, 2023
Structural engineering solutions for office-to-residential conversion
IMEG's Edwin Dean, Joe Gulden, and Doug Sweeney, share seven key focuses for structural engineers when planning office-to-residential conversions.
