Projects in China

The Guangzhou Opera House is a "double pebble" structure washed away by the Pearl River, designed by Zaha Hadid. The complex features a custom molded glass-fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRC) interior that allows for continuous, fluid surfaces. The main 1,800-seat auditorium is asymmetrical to optimize acoustics and views, utilizing the latest sound technology within its organic form. It is considered a monument to the new millennium in China.

Shanghai Tower, standing 632 meters (128 stories) tall, is China's tallest building and a model of sustainable supertall design. Designed by Gensler, its cylindrical form twists 120 degrees to reduce wind loads by 24%, a strategy confirmed by wind tunnel testing that saved $58 million in structural material. The tower features a transparent double-skin facade that acts as an insulating blanket, and is organized into nine vertical zones, each with its own "sky lobby" atrium.

The Shanghai Natural History Museum in the Jing'an Sculpture Park is a bioclimatic building inspired by the nautilus shell, one of the purest geometric forms in nature. Designed by Perkins&Will, the museum features a distinct "cellular wall" representing the structure of plants and animals. Its intelligent skin minimizes solar gain, while a central pond in the courtyard provides evaporative cooling. The project seamlessly integrates exhibition spaces with the surrounding park.

The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), affectionately known as "The Bottle Opener," is a 492-meter supertall skyscraper in Pudong. Designed by KPF, the tower's most distinctive feature is a large trapezoidal aperture at the peak, which relieves wind pressure and houses the world's highest observation deck at the time of completion. The building's form transforms from a square base to a linear top, symbolizing the intersection of earth and sky.