AS+GG releases design scheme for the South HeXi Yuzui Financial District and Tower

After its design competition win back in 2018, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) has unveiled the final scheme for the new South HeXi Yuzui Financial District and Tower in Nanjing, China.

The 860,000-sm mixed-use development will increase the value of the location with networks to access the riverfront, multiple public transportation options, and many new cultural, natural, and technological opportunities. A myriad of public parks and art centers will be included to encourage increased interaction and invite users to experience the district as either a live-work environment or purely as a visitor.

Anchoring the new district is a new 1,640-foot-tall tower that will be among the tallest skyscrapers in the city. It will feature an open-air, 360-degree observatory that will be one of the highest of its kind in the world. This observation platform was necessary to keep the building at the forefront of cultural advances. “Building tall is no longer a challenge but instead, an expectation. Today, height is no longer the sole factor that makes a building unique, attractive, or interesting,” said Gordon Gill, FAIA, AS+GG Design Partner, in a release. The supertall’s design was inspired by the Yangtze River and the exterior is shaped to mitigate wind vortices, optimize views, and enhance both the structure and the program.

“It was important for the success of the district to include a supertall tower. The building will be an important focal point and add value to the surrounding development sites,” says Adrian Smith, FAIA, Design Partner, AS+GG, in a release. “These iconic supertall structures draw business, tourism, and retail activity from all over China and the international tourist market.”

The tower is expected to become one of the world’s tallest buildings to achieve LEED Gold certification upon its completion in 2025. Rainwater harvesting will be integrated into its sky gardens to target onsite water management at greater than 100% of rainfall. Rainwater will be collected using sponge city concepts included sub-soil collection, permeable paving, and recessed green space. The collected water will be drained to tanks below ground level where it will be treated and stored for reuse, reducing total indoor water use by 55%. A high-performance, Low-E insulated curtain-wall system has carefully designed fins that work with the building’s geometry to efficiently reduce solar heat gain and provide the effective protection to the indoor environment while maintaining access to daylighting and controlling glare.

In addition to the supertall, the plan also calls for the construction of a 282-foot residential tower, 328-foot office tower, a 508-foot office tower, a 721-foot tower office tower, and a 1,148-foot office tower.