The Ping An Finance Center, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is officially complete according to the criteria established by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. This means the 599-meter-tall (1,965 feet) structure is now formally the fourth tallest building in the world. Only the Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower are taller.
The Ping An Finance Center rises from Shenzhen, China’s prominent Futian District and comprises a large public atrium at its base. This atrium is packed with stores, restaurants, and transit connections to the city, the Pearl River Delta region, and greater China, CTBUH reports.
The tower features the world’s largest stainless steel façade, using a total of 1,700 tons of 316L stainless steel. The material was chosen for its corrosion resistance, which will help the Ping An Finance Center keep a stable aesthetic for years despite the salty coastal atmosphere of the city.
The building’s shape was not only chosen for its aesthetics, but also because it helps to improve the structural and wind performance of the tower by reducing baseline wind loads by 35%.
In addition to being the fourth tallest building in the world, Ping An Finance Center is the second tallest building in China and the tallest building in Shenzhen.
Thornton Tomasetti was the structural engineer for the project and China Construction First Building Group was the general contractor.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Feb 19, 2016
SHoP Architects designs supertall Brooklyn skyscraper
Developers plan to incorporate a landmark bank into the tower's footprint.
High-rise Construction | Feb 16, 2016
PLP Architecture re-imagines what it means to be a skyscraper
Coming in at just under ‘megatall’ status, the 595-meter Nexus Building forgoes the central core design typical of most skyscrapers.
High-rise Construction | Feb 8, 2016
Bjarke Ingels unveils design for winding Manhattan high-rise
The Spiral will be a 65-story tower with a half-mile’s worth of green space wrapped around its exterior.
Game Changers | Feb 5, 2016
Asia’s modular miracle
A prefab construction company in China built a 57-story tower in 19 days. Here’s how they did it.
High-rise Construction | Feb 2, 2016
This tall tower will lower your heart rate
Matthias Olt, Associate Vice President at CallisonRTKL, discusses new ways to improve individual health and well-being through tower design.
High-rise Construction | Jan 25, 2016
BIG unveils new renderings for NYC towers at 76 Eleventh Avenue
The twisty, asymmetrical condo complexes will have office space instead of a hotel.
Mixed-Use | Jan 25, 2016
SOM unveils renderings of dual-tower Manhattan West development
The five million-sf project includes two office towers, a residential tower, retail space, and a new public square.
High-rise Construction | Jan 13, 2016
With the completion of NY’s 432 Park Avenue, there are now 100 ‘supertall’ skyscrapers in the world
That makes it an even 100. With the completion of 432 Park Avenue in New York City, the number of so-called “supertall” buildings (buildings standing at least 300 meters tall) in the world has reached the century mark, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016
Luxury high-rise is Zaha Hadid’s first foray into South America
The Casa Atlantica is planned for Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016
Renzo Piano's curved glass tower planned for NY's Soho neighborhood
The 25-story tower is a residential building with 115 apartments and plenty of amenities.