Anchoring the city of the future

About 100 kilometers south of Beijing, SOM led the urban design for the Xiong’An New Area—a “city of the future” that prioritizes wellness, resiliency, and local culture by integrating advanced sustainable technologies, introducing green infrastructure, and preserving the natural landscape. It is a model for sustainable urban development, and for Sinochem, SOM designed its architectural centerpiece—a tower that will define the city’s skyline.

Inspired by Xiong’an’s local ecology, the design is deeply rooted in the region’s heritage. The 31-story tower features a warm palette of stone and terracotta that echoes the tone of the region’s native golden reed, curved columns, and sky gardens that bring the landscape into the building. It establishes a prominent marker within the emerging skyline, consolidating offices and collaborative workspaces inside while taking a holistic approach to sustainability. Through a range of strategies, Sinochem Headquarters Tower aims to achieve net zero energy, a significant benchmark for a tall building.

A high-rise for a low-carbon city

The tower’s octagonal plan is derived from environmental analysis. By faceting the massing, the design reduces direct solar exposure on the most heat-intensive orientations. Vertical shading panels lower solar radiation by 22 percent compared to a conventional rectangular tower of similar dimensions. Building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) panels contribute approximately 10 percent of the building’s predicted operational energy use, and the remaining demand is supplied by offsite renewable energy sources.

A vertical framework for collaboration

The workplace is structured around six vertically stacked atria distributed at regular intervals throughout the tower. Each atrium forms a multistory communal area that interrupts the standard office floors and establishes visual connections across departments.

Bridges and perimeter walkways line each atrium, encouraging teams to circulate without relying on elevators. Seven sky gardens provide employees with direct access to planted outdoor space. Stair enclosures and feature walls are clad in bamboo-textured aluminum panels, and dark honed quartz is used for atrium floors and stair treads.

Symbol and structure at the crown

The tower culminates in a crown resembling the peony flower, an emblem associated with Sinochem’s brand and a longstanding symbol in Chinese culture. Continuing the tower’s faceted geometry, the crown translates the facade’s angular language into a sculpted summit clad in champagne-colored aluminum panels that shift in tone throughout the day.

At level 31, the Sky Club occupies the uppermost floor. Executive meeting rooms and amenities are arranged along a perimeter balcony with panoramic views across the district. A central oculus reveals  the crown’s structure from within the interior space, visually linking the workplace to the building’s skyline expression.