China World Trade Center Tower 3B
Architect: SOM Chicago
Client: China World Trade Company
Location: Beijing
Completion: 2016
SOM Chicago is about to break ground on their newest planned tower in the China World Trade Center complex in Beijing. The 918-foot tall, 58 story tower features an innovative canted glass facade, which is both eye catching and high performance. Sections of the facades are three degrees off vertical giving the curtain wall a subtle pleated pattern, which also helps reduce glare and prevent the city’s dirty air from coating the glass. It also diminishes reflection and heat gain, cutting energy loads by an estimated eight percent. The office and hotel tower will have approximately 1.2 million square feet of space built around a reinforced concrete core. The architects are aiming for LEED Gold certification.
The building’s distinctive form evokes both subtle pagoda forms as well as plant stalks, according to a statement by SOM design partner Brian Lee. The tower will rise adjacent to the 74 story World Trade Center Three, also by SOM, currently the tallest building in China’s capital.
