Greatwall Complex
Wuhan, China
10 Design has designed and delivered an exemplary development in Wuhan, which provides a world class workplace and retail, a vibrant public realm, as well as a high-performance and sustainable building.
Strategically located in the core of Wuhan, Greatwall Complex is situated along Zhongbei Road, adjacent to the provincial capital area and Department of Finance of Hubei Province in China. The streetscape of this central axis is evolving rapidly with many striking new developments taking shape.
The new complex is a twin tower development. Tower 1 is one of the top ten tallest towers in Wuhan at 242.9m high, the uppermost floors will serve as the client's new headquarters (Greatwall Construction). Tower 2 is trademarked by FedEx, which occupies the top floors of the tower. Together both buildings provide GFA 90,000sqm (Podium GFA is circa 20,000sqm) of Grade A office space. The twin towers are linked by 4 floors of podium containing retail and F&B space. The development provides underground parking for 1,200 spaces.
Greatwall Complex has achieved LEED Platinum Certification for Building Design & Construction: Core & Shell.
Strategically located in the core of Wuhan, Greatwall Complex is situated along Zhongbei Road, adjacent to the provincial capital area and Department of Finance of Hubei Province in China. The streetscape of this central axis is evolving rapidly with many striking new developments taking shape.
The new complex is a twin tower development. Tower 1 is one of the top ten tallest towers in Wuhan at 242.9m high, the uppermost floors will serve as the client's new headquarters (Greatwall Construction). Tower 2 is trademarked by FedEx, which occupies the top floors of the tower. Together both buildings provide GFA 90,000sqm (Podium GFA is circa 20,000sqm) of Grade A office space. The twin towers are linked by 4 floors of podium containing retail and F&B space. The development provides underground parking for 1,200 spaces.
Greatwall Complex has achieved LEED Platinum Certification for Building Design & Construction: Core & Shell.
Greatwall Construction and the government outlined a vision for the new development which carefully considered the relationship of the lower podium with the surrounding city context. The key requirements were to provide a positive addition to the streetscape, engage with the existing urban realm, and create new public space.
The principle project aim was to create a new dynamic and iconic working environment for the city of Wuhan, which would attract high end tenants, facilitate the ongoing regeneration of the district, and raise the profile of the recently designated financial core of Wuhan.
To address the client's vision above, 10 Design worked with the client's team and the local government to maximise the potential of the podium spaces and their relationship with the streetscape of Zhongbei Road.
Through the testing of possible site solutions, Greatwall Construction and 10 Design embraced the principle of allowing the pedestrian streetscape to extend upwards along the face of the podium, providing valuable south east facing F&B terraces and the city with unique and accessible public space.
Through careful consideration of the relationship between internal and external circulation within the podium, 10 Design animated the façade with active terraces and circulation space as opposed to the traditional blank solid face of retail malls.
The concept of the accessible and active façade begins with a sunken plaza space at B1, providing sheltered external café space and access to B1 retail space including supermarket and food court. The sunken plaza allows the lower levels to actively engage with the city scape.
The start of the journey upwards along the façade from level one is defined by an amphitheatre space facing south, which provides external seating space all year round for the public and performance space during the weekends.
The transition between each level along the eastern façade is articulated by grand stair spaces, animated by small terrace garden spaces and art installations.
The destination of the public route along the façade is a lush rooftop garden space located at level four activated by adjacent F&B space. The garden is also an interactive environment providing space for art exhibitions and performance.
The internal spaces within the podium are organised around a large central atrium pro-orientation upon arrival at level one.
Another attractive quality the complex offers is the powerful green performance of the façade. 10 Design created not only an elegant façade but also led the specification process in applying a three-layer hollow laminated LOW-E glass for the curtain wall. The effect is a 95% improvement of solar and thermal performance, which in turn helps to significantly decrease utility costs.
winning awards
LEED Platinum Certification 2018
CTBUH Awards 2018 - Awards of Excellence for Urban Habitat
HKIA Cross Strait Architectural Design Awards 2017 - Nominated Awards
WAN Awards 2017 - Finalist of Tall Building Awards
MIPIM Asia Awards 2016 - Silver Trophy for the Best Innovative Green Building
Cityscape Awards 2016 - Highly Commended for Commercial Built Project
A&D Trophy Awards 2016 - Winner of Commercial Retail or Office
team
Design Partner - Nick Cordingley
Project Partner - Barry Shapiro
Architectural Team
Brian Fok, Vincent Fung, Adam Wang, Dan Narita, Mohamad Ghamlouch, Miloš Živković, Shaowen Deng, Yvonne Lim, Dawen Qin, Marko Vuković, Xu Nan, Qing Cao, Qing Lai, Sanrong Tian
Landscape Team
Ewa Koter, Matthew Younger, Joyce Zan, Shingrong Wu, Ibrahim Diaz
CGI Team
Jon Martin, Shane Dale, Miguel Vicente, Yasser Salomon
consultants
10 Design – Lead Design Architect, Lead Landscape Design Architect
Paring Onions – Lead Interiors Design Architect
CITIC General Institute of Architectural Design and Research – Local Design and Engineering Institute
DTZ – Project Management
China Construction Third Engineering Bureau – Main Contractor
Jangho Group Company Ltd. – Curtain Wall specialist/contractor
CB Richard Ellis – LEED Consultant
Photo courtesy of Great Wall Construction Industry
