21 jun 11  | World Architecture News

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, Thornton Tomasetti and PositivEnergy Practice to design world's fourth tallest building

Fast becoming leaders in the design of tall buildings, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture have just scooped another major project in China which is destined to become the fourth tallest building in the world when construction completes in approximately five years.

Entitled Wuhan Greenland Center, the 606m pillar will be located on the intersection of the Yangtze and Han Rivers and will comprise around 200,000 sq m of commercial office space, 50,000 sq m of high-end residential accommodation, a 45,000 sq m five-star hotel, and a stunning private member’s club in a 27m-tall penthouse volume.

Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill will work as design architects on the 119-storey scheme, with engineers Thornton Tomasetti and energy services, engineering and consulting company PositivEnergy Practice. Speaking on the decision, Gordon Gill commented: “Wuhan is an exciting and important project for our firm as we continue to advance our ideas about performance-based supertall tower design. We look forward to building on past experience on similar projects, with particular emphasis on the relation of architectural form and performance as they pertain to structural wind loads.”

Work is still being completed on the concept design although construction is due to start this coming summer. The structure’s fluid conical form has been deliberately crafted to minimise the volume of structural material needed in construction, whilst its tapered body, softly rounded corners and domed top have been introduced in order to reduce wind resistance and vortex action that occurs around supertall buildings. The tower’s elongated silhouette rises from a tripod-shaped base, tapering gently to an arched apex of smooth curved glass which works in direct contrast to the textured curtain wall of the main column.