The competition-winning plan for the high-rise at the heart of Zhengzhou’s Greenland Plaza development combines advances in architecture, engineering, and sustainable design to create an energy-efficient, 56-story structure. The SOM proposal is unprecedented in its ability to use technology to effectively meet changing seasonal and environmental requirements for heating, cooling, and lighting. The program, which includes hotel, office, retail and entertainment, will constitute a vertical city that is active throughout the day.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 2012
Site Area: 30,478 m²
Project Area: 240,169 m²
Building Height: 279.30 m
Number of Stories: 56

Project Awards

2011 • Architect Magazine • R + D Award
2011 • Asia Pacific Property Awards • Mixed-Use Architecture China: Highly Commended

SOM secured the commission for a new mixed-use development in Zhengzhou, China, through an international competition. At 280 meters in height it will be the tallest building in western China. Advanced environmental technology, such as a building envelope that reduces solar heat gain and allows the tower to breathe, will make it appropriate to the climate of Zhengzhou.

The atrium in the Zhengzhou hotel is accentuated by a solar reflector which was specifically designed for the atrium through an intensive series of daylighting studies to maximize the amount of natural light. The surfaces of the atrium are finished to help drive light deep within. The atrium is thereby equipped to modulate the light level based on the available light provided by the reflector through a series of light sensing dimmer switches. This feature will enable the atrium to consume less energy and generate less heat throughout the year.

The hotel atrium also features a unique smart control system that utilizes an internal stack effect and external wind pressure to achieve a well-ventilated environment. The smart control system operates in different modes to move large volumes of fresh air through the indoor environment using natural forces.