The Ping An Finance Center, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is officially complete according to the criteria established by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. This means the 599-meter-tall (1,965 feet) structure is now formally the fourth tallest building in the world. Only the Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower are taller.
The Ping An Finance Center rises from Shenzhen, China’s prominent Futian District and comprises a large public atrium at its base. This atrium is packed with stores, restaurants, and transit connections to the city, the Pearl River Delta region, and greater China, CTBUH reports.
The tower features the world’s largest stainless steel façade, using a total of 1,700 tons of 316L stainless steel. The material was chosen for its corrosion resistance, which will help the Ping An Finance Center keep a stable aesthetic for years despite the salty coastal atmosphere of the city.
The building’s shape was not only chosen for its aesthetics, but also because it helps to improve the structural and wind performance of the tower by reducing baseline wind loads by 35%.
In addition to being the fourth tallest building in the world, Ping An Finance Center is the second tallest building in China and the tallest building in Shenzhen.
Thornton Tomasetti was the structural engineer for the project and China Construction First Building Group was the general contractor.
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2014
Trump Hotel Collections announces luxury hotel for Rio de Janeiro
The 13-story, 171-guestroom Trump Rio will be Trump Hotel Collection’s first property in South America and the only luxury hotel in the neighborhood when it opens in 2016.
| Jan 30, 2014
See how architects at NBBJ are using computational design to calculate the best views on projects [video]
In an ideal world, every office employee would have a beautiful view from his or her desk. While no one can make that happen in real life, computational design can help architects maximize views from every angle.
| Jan 29, 2014
Richard Meier unveils 'urban courtyard' scheme for Mexico City towers
A grand atrium, reaching some 30 stories, highlights the contemporary, bright-white design scheme unveiled this week by Richard Meier & Partners for a new mixed-use development in Mexico City.
| Jan 28, 2014
2014 predictions for skyscraper construction: More twisting towers, mega-tall projects, and 'superslim' designs
Experts from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat release their 2014 construction forecast for the worldwide high-rise industry.
| Jan 23, 2014
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed Federation of Korean Industries tower opens in Seoul [slideshow]
The 50-story tower features a unique, angled building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) exterior designed to maximize the amount of energy collected.
| Jan 21, 2014
Comcast to build second Philadelphia skyscraper, with Norman Foster-designed tower [slideshow]
The British architect last week unveiled his scheme for the $1.2 billion, 59-story Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, planned adjacent to the Comcast Center.
| Jan 21, 2014
2013: The year of the super-tall skyscraper
Last year was the second-busiest ever in terms of 200-meter-plus building completions, with 73 towers, according to a report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Jan 3, 2014
World’s tallest vegetated façade to sprout in Sri Lanka [slideshow]
Set to open in late 2015, the 46-story Clearpoint Residences condo tower will feature planted terraces circling the entire structure.
| Dec 31, 2013
BD+C's top 10 stories of 2013
The world's tallest twisting tower and the rise of augmented reality technology in construction were among the 10 most popular articles posted on Building Design+Construction's website, BDCnetwork.com.
| Nov 13, 2013
New AISC Guide for Stability Design of Steel Buildings Now Available
Design professionals now have a valuable new resource on practical applications for stability design