Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has introduced its design for the Hangzhou Wangchao Center in Hangzhou, China. Ascending nearly 950 feet, the mixed-use tower will accommodate offices, retail, and a hotel across 1.3 million square feet. The structure is slated for completion in 2021.
The 54-story tower will serve as the gateway for the forthcoming Qianjang Century Town, one of several development projects conceived to attract tourists as part of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Designed with an expressive silhouette, the tower will be crafted with eight columns that curve outward at the corners to create large and versatile floorplans. The undulating façade will be clad entirely with planar glass panels, while a Vierendeel transfer installed above the building’s lobby will connect secondary columns to corner columns as well.