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Image: Xue Liang
The upcoming Shenzhen Institute of Financial Technology Tower by Zaha Hadid Architects is taking shape. Construction work has begun on the sculptural façade of the 46-story structure.
Located on a narrow plot of land in the center of Shenzhen's Futian district, the tower is designed to accommodate the institute's ongoing expansion to serve China's growing fintech industry.
The approximately 818,000 square meter building will house research and development laboratories, technology exchange, data centers and a training campus, as well as management, support and administrative departments.
The tower's composition is determined by its surrounding urban environment. Its volume has setbacks determined by mapping and modeling the annual solar rays across the site. The setbacks optimize the direct sunlight on the surrounding streets, public spaces and buildings. In addition, the tower's shell is equipped with high-performance thermal insulation and external slats that provide self-shading.
These distortions in the tower's volume are reflected in the varying degrees of transparency and color on the facade, which consists of vertical and angled glass mullions in black and bronze colors.
Inside, a series of atriums will connect the floors to encourage interaction and collaboration. The foliage in these atria serves to filter pollutants. There will also be a roof garden offering various sheltered spaces for events, exhibitions, gatherings and relaxation.
An AI-powered smart building system will learn to predict user behavior and tower occupancy throughout the day. It will incorporate hybrid natural ventilation and routinely adjust the building's services to ensure optimal comfort with the highest energy efficiency.
The structure's carbon footprint is further reduced through the use of recycled steel and aggregates from local suppliers.