Music Technology Tower is the new headquarters for Tencent Music and Entertainment Group (TME) in Houhai Central, Shenzhen's vibrant technology and financial hub. After AS+GG won the design competition in August 2022, the project broke ground in January 2023. Construction of the basement structure was successfully completed in October 2024, with the building set for completion by the end of 2027.
The headquarters will showcase Tencent’s global music entertainment platform, serving as high-quality office space for 4,000 employees. The project features comprehensice program of office, retail, exhibition, performance, cafeteria, fitness, roof garden, facility management, a public open plaza, and a 2,200-square-meter bus terminal.
As the Design Architects, AS+GG drew inspiration from TME's vision of creating endless possibilities through music, innovation, and technology to create a headquarters that offers a truly lyrical experience. As the strategic gateway to Shenzhen’s high-tech district and a connector to the public parks system, the project values public inclusion as one of the fundamental design principles.
In order to broadcast its purpose, the building pulsates with movement. The design vocabulary is fluid and flows seamlessly between soft and poetic, lyrical, dynamic, and bold, blending public and private spaces while maintaining efficient wayfinding. Spatially, the program is organized around a series of interconnected "stages," which are versatile areas designed to host public events and support a wide range of activities such as exhibitions, performances, work, research, and relaxation. This emphasizes flexibility, functionality, and a celebratory approach to community engagement.
The performance-driven design focuses on optimizing energy efficiency while enhancing occupant comfort. The adaptive façade features variable module spacing and vertical shading fins carefully designed to enhance the building’s organic form, maximize unobstructed views, and provide effective shading tailored to the surrounding environment and context.
The façade is articulated with soft white fins that provide shading while minimizing heat gain in Shenzhen’s hot subtropical climate. Dichroic glass accents spiral upward in a rhythmic pattern, shimmering with light and transforming in appearance depending on the angle and time of day. These dynamic, organic details not only enrich the aesthetic experience but also improve functionality by reducing the façade surface area by 2.6%.
The full approach reduces solar heat gain by 25% while ensuring abundant natural daylight with minimal glare. Materials were strategically chosen and applied based on performance and demand, achieving both carbon efficiency and cost-effectiveness. At its top, the building incorporates solar PV panels that power night lighting behind the dichroic glass, transforming it into a vibrant, 24/7 urban icon that embodies music and technology. The total installed capacity of the PV panels is 62.29kWp.
