Shanghai Tower

At 632 metres tall, Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building and the centerpiece of the city s Lujiazui commercial district. This visually driven volume captures the emotion and spirit of a tower that is transformative in nature, setting new precedents for how public spaces can be integrated throughout supertall buildings. In the tower, designed by the Gensler design firm, references to nature and Chinese cultural traditions are fused recast vertically in a form inspired by the traditional lane houses that are unique to Shanghai. Brief essays by company founder Art Gensler and principals Jun Xia, Xiaomei Lee, and Dan Winey provide meaningful context to the tower, the commission for which was won in an international design competition.