Every year, Bentley Systems holds its Year in Infrastructure conference, which sets the stage for the Be Inspired Awards. These awards put the spotlight into projects from across the globe and from various industries, from building and construction to mining to project delivery.
This year’s Innovation in Building finalists presented their projects on Nov. 1 before the winners were announced on the evening of Nov. 2. The winner? The Hanking Center Tower by Morphosis.
The base of the Hanking Center Tower, presented at the Year in Infrastructure conference. (Image courtesy of Morphosis.)
Hanking Center Tower is a 1,148-ft (350-m) mixed-use building in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It has a unique design; the base, full of folded angles that resemble an origami shape, houses retail and dining space, while the remainder of the tower is reserved for offices.
A Unique Core
So what got the tower its winning title?
The defining feature of the structure is its structural steel system and detached core. The core runs along the outside of the tower, much like a spine, and houses the elevator systems. It connects to the main structure using sky bridges.
By moving the core to the exterior of the building, the design team at Morphosis was able to open up floor space and use equally sized floor plates as the building ascends from the ground. The detached core also enabled an open floor plan to facilitate HVAC and maximize daylighting.
The remainder of the structure stands…
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.