China Direct

Foster + Partners reveals Shenzhen skyscraper for China Merchants Bank

 

CBI member, Foster + Partners has unveiled its design for a 350-metre-tall skyscraper in Shenzhen that will serve as the headquarters for China Merchants Bank. The tower will be the first building in the city’s new ‘Super Headquarters District’, a new economic hub being built in the city to help it reach its goal, as set out in the 13^th Five-Year Plan, of becoming a ‘super economic centre’ housing 13,000 banking staff.

Foster + Partners’ design features a tower with structural supports running along the outside on the east and west sides, meaning that every office floor – together amounting to 310,000 square metres – will be open and column free.

Grant Brooker, head of studio at Foster + Partners said: “The tower’s design represents a significant step in the evolution of the workplace, which we have evolved in close partnership with the client to create a highly flexible floorplate that can be adjusted to their fast-changing needs and provide an excellent working environment for their staff. The building will be a symbol of the bank’s premier status in the industry, embodying its strong legacy while looking firmly towards the future.”

Foster + Partners’ design also features a quadruple height glazed atrium at the top of the building, which will be open to customers of the bank, and will house a gallery, event spaces, meeting rooms and dining areas. A separate art gallery and fitness facility for employees will be included in the building’s lower levels.

The design firm is also designed an accompanying 180-metre high hotel and office tower, along with shops and other amenities close to the China Merchants Bank Tower.

Young Wei-Yang Chiu, partner at Foster + Partners said: “The tower forms part of a new complex that will connect with the next phase of the Shenzhen Bay development, featuring a well-connected urban square linked with the metro, retail, cultural spaces and Shenzhen Bay’s amazing waterfront.”

 

Benoy celebrates 10 years in Shanghai

 

 

Architecture firm and CBI Member, Benoy celebrated its 10 year anniversary in Shanghai this August.

To mark the occasion, British Consul-General in Shanghai, John Edwards accompanied Benoy officials in cutting the ribbon on the firm’s new design studio.

The Benoy Shanghai office has gone from strength to strength. Originally a satellite to the Hong Kong office - which has been in operation since 2002 - the Shanghai branch has gone from a small team of 5, to a cohort of more than 80 in number.

Earlier this year, Benoy celebrated completing the twin – tower development, The New Bund World on the banks of Shanghai’s Huangpu River. The company is also currently engaged by Alibaba to deliver a new HQ in the city’s Hongqiao district. These are just two examples out of a growing and ever-more dynamic portfolio, including a Science & Innovation Park in Shanghai, an Arts Centre in Hangzhou and the conversion of an ice factory in Nanjing into a new retail space.

Benoy will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in Singapore later this year.

 

Arup wins top award for Shenzhen Energy Mansion

CBI member Arup was recognised with the Grand Award in Mainland/Overseas projects category at the HKIE Structural Excellence Award for its work in engineering the Energy Mansion in Shenzhen, China.

Shenzhen Energy Mansion is an office development comprising two towers, 220m and 110m tall, with forms that are sympathetic to the elongated site and plot layout.

Designed by the world renowned architect Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the project features a unique folded façade that both passively and actively reduces the energy consumption of the building. Limited by the long and narrow site layout, the structure is very slim in the east to west direction. To accommodate the aesthetic shape of both towers, the columns follow and incline along the façade envelope. The number and location of the columns were carefully determined to provide maximum floor efficiency and views to the outside.

Arup supported BIG to deliver this landmark building since the design competition, providing structural, MEP, building sustainability and fire engineering services. This has been the fifth consecutive year that Arup has won this prestigious annual award which honours excellence in structural engineering and achievement by structural engineers in Hong Kong.

Please read more here.

Atkins designs IHG Hualuxe Hotel in Xiamen

 

The CBI member Atkins-designed CBI member IHG Hualuxe Hotel of the Ocean Empire in the seaside city of Xiamen, China, opened recently. Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, was appointed as architect by developer Ronshine China.

The hotel is also part of a larger masterplan by Atkins that includes seven residential towers. SNC-Lavalin acquired WS Atkins plc on July 3, 2017.

With its prominent waterside location near the bridge from Xiamen Island, the hotel is highly visible from much of central Xiamen and emulates the city’s symbol of the egret in its design. The two towers seek to suggest the outstretched wings of the bird and the fins on the façade aim to reflect the quills of its feathers.

This metaphor has been extended into the landscape design. Ian Milne, senior design director for SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business, said: “For anyone that has visited Xiamen they will know it is an enchanting, beautiful seaside city. We feel privileged to have played our part in providing a new landmark for this city and thank Mr Ou Zonghong, chairman of Ronshine China, for his original vision and his team’s dedication to the project’s delivery.”

Please read more here.

Beijing's tallest building reaches for the sky - with help from CBI member Arup

With the last steel beam lifted up to the sky, the tallest building in Beijing, China Zun topped out successfully on 22 August. China Zun Tower stands out in the capital city’s Central Business District opposite another well-known Arup project – the CCTV Headquarters.

CBI member Arup has acted as the structural and geotechnical engineer for the project since 2011, as well as providing fire and security consultancy. Arup engineered a highly efficient tube-in-tube structural system composed of perimeter mega structure and reinforced concrete core.

The current elegant curved shape was also the result of many scheme study runs. The geometric complexity was further combined with the challenge of engineering a viable seismic structural system for such a tall building with its unique enlarged zun-top.

Please read more here.

Two Atkins-designed projects scoop international property awards

Two CBI member Atkins-designed projects were under the spotlight at the International Property Awards 2017. The supertall Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City won "best residential high-rise architecture Vietnam” and the Vinhomes metropolis won “Best Residential High-rise Development Vietnam”.

Both projects were also nominated to represent Asia Pacific to compete with the winning projects from other regions for the international award later this year.

Ian Milne, Atkins’ design director for Landmark 81, represented Atkins at the award ceremony in Bangkok. He said: “The International Property Awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry.

As the architect for the Landmark 81 and Vinhome Metropolis, it is a tremendous recognition to Atkins’ capability in creating architectural icons that define the identity of cities.”

Please read more here.

Celebrating CBI Member Success in China April 2016

We are delighted to share with you our latest China member success briefing and UK-China monthly roundup. Please feel free to share this with your members and colleagues.

In total, our April briefing has highlighted the successes of 25 CBI members in China:

• Arup
• Atkins
• AVEVA
• Benoy
• Boeing
• BP
• British Airways
• Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
• Deloitte
• Deutsche Bank
• Gatwick Airport
• GKN
• Heathrow Airport Limited
• HSBC
• Huawei
• Hytera
• Jaguar Land Rover
• P. Morgan
• King’s College London
• Middlesex University
• Mott MacDonald
• Rolls-Royce
• Uber
• University of Birmingham
• University of Nottingham

Download CBI China, Celebrating CBI member success in China, April 2016

UK-China Monthly Round-Up Jan 2016

Dear CBI members and partners. Please find attached below our UK-China monthly round-up, which covers the following announcements:

• 2016 U.K.-China Education Week
• AIIB President-designate speaks at European Chamber Annual Conference
• CBBC and Alibaba host roundtable on copyright protection in Chinese e-commerce
• CBBC and Tianjin Municipal Education Commission to co-host forum on entrepreneurship education
• CBBC signs free trade zone agreement with Qianhai Authority
• CCTV Français organises gathering on new book “Crossover, China-E.U.” to celebrate 40^th anniversary of Sino-European diplomatic relations
• Chinese Ambassador to U.K. hosts 2015 Icebreaker Awards ceremony
• U.K. and China agree on scope of future investment deal
• Ninth China-Singapore diplomatic consultations
• Shakespeare Lives programme in 2016
• U.K. Home Office announces expansion of its Registered Traveller service
• U.K. Home Office launches new two-year Chinese visa pilot
• U.K. Foreign Secretary visits China
• Download CBI China, U.K.-China Monthly Roundup, January 2016

Focus on Chengdu - CBI China Regional City Series

 

 

 Chengdu

Ambassador Woodward visits Chengdu: In November 2015, Barbara Woodward paid her first solo visit to Chengdu as British Ambassador to China. During her visit, she met with the Executive Vice Governor of Sichuan and the Mayor of Chengdu, visited the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and delivered a speech on joint efforts to a green and low carbon future, visited West China Hospital (the second-largest hospital in China) and promised to invite more of the UK’s healthcare organisations to Go West, and participated in an Empowering Women event to share her personal experiences with female university students on her own growth and career development.

UK Chancellor visits Chengdu: In September 2015, UK Chancellor George Osborne announced a major milestone for the government’s High Speed 2 rail project (HS2), kick-starting the bidding process for phase one of the mega construction project. At least seven new contracts will be opened up to companies, with a total combined value of £11.8 billion.

The Chancellor made the announcement at an event in Chengdu, aimed at wooing some of China’s biggest investors to be part of the project as well as a raft of other major UK infrastructure projects. The Chancellor also showcased a selection of £24 billion worth of investment opportunities in the North of England at the event in Chengdu.

The Chancellor said there are unprecedented opportunities for Chinese investment into the Northern Powerhouse. Infrastructure and regeneration investment projects such as the Atlantic Gateway and Science Central, a cutting-edge development in the heart of Newcastle, were set out in a new Northern Pitchbook that was presented in Chengdu.

Other facts/figures on Chengdu and Sichuan province

Nearly 100 UK companies registered in Sichuan: There are now 94 UK companies registered and doing business in Chengdu and Sichuan province – nine of the 94 are in the world’s top 500 companies – in sectors ranging from financial and professional services, aerospace, engineering, construction, and manufacturing.

China’s fifth most populous city: Chengdu is China’s fifth most populous city 

High levels of foreign investment: In the first four months of 2015, Chengdu received US$1.2 billion in contracted foreign investment, up 150% compared to the same period in 2014.

Strong concentration of MNCs: There are over 265 Fortune 500 companies with businese in Chengdu. 

Key industries: Key industries in Chengdu include pharmaceuticals, food processing, automotive, aerospace, and metallurgy, finance, ICT, retail, petrochemical, and tourism.

Examples of CBI members in Sichuan province:  

Atkins:

 

 

In November 2015, the Seaton Plaza, Atkins’ first mixed-use development in Chengdu, opened for business.

• In June 2013, Atkins completed the landscape design for the waterfront in Mianyang, Sichuan province, creating leisure space for the public and interlinking various commercial and residential developments.
• In May 2012, Atkins was commissioned to draw up the Guidelines for the Chengdu North City Regeneration project.

 

• Benoy: In January 2014, Benoy announced the opening of Chengdu International Finance Square.

 

• BP: In October 2015, BP and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), in an expansion of their global partnership, entered into a framework agreement on strategic cooperation covering potential shale gas exploration and production in the Sichuan Basin and future fuel retailing ventures in China and other international partnerships.

 

• British Airways: In 2013, British Airways launched its direct service between Chengdu and London.

 

• Deloitte: In October 2013, Deloitte opened its Chengdu office.

 

• Diageo: In July 2013, Diageo received approval from Chinese authorities to acquire the remaining 47% stake in Sichuan Chengdu Shuijingfang Group Co. Ltd. owned by its Chinese partners.

 

• PwC: In May 2015, PwC opened its Chengdu office.

 

• Shell: In March 2012, Shell and China National Petroleum Corporation signed a Production Sharing Contract for shale gas exploration, development, and production in the Fushun-Yongchuan block in Sichuan province.

 

• UBM: In August 2015, UBM’s second edition of HOTELEX Chengdu Exhibition, organised by UBM China and undertook by the Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co. Ltd. and the Sichuan Province Hotel Supplies Industry Association, was held in Chengdu.

Benoy reveals design within emerging Qianhai Financial District

CBI member Benoy revealed its design of the future China Resources Land (CRL) Qianhai Centre in Shenzhen. The development will form a core part of the highly publicised Qianhai special economic zone.

As the master planner and retail architect, Benoy has challenged the status quo of a traditional finance district by creating a multi-layered active city environment for the commercial scheme. Located in the centre of Qianhai, the development sits within ‘Neighbourhood 2’ of the district.

With a vision to transform the district into the ‘Manhattan of the Pearl River Delta’, Qianhai itself is expected to attract US$45 billion in future investment. Benoy’s master plan for the 54,000-square metre site aims to create an active 24-hour destination and develop the plot to its fullest potential.

The scheme will feature a four-storey podium,  including a basement retail level, which will connect to five towers comprising commercial offices, a 5-Star international hotel, and serviced apartment residences. Enlivening the heart of the development, and, in turn, the wider district, has been a key consideration of the design.

As such, Benoy has carved two main spines through the development to create a lively internal streetscape. The ‘Financial Valley’ and the ‘Green Belt’ thoroughfares open up the podium to create an interconnected environment from the sunken basement levels up to the roof garden on Level 4. At the intersection of these internal streets sits the focal point of the scheme—a large, vertically and horizontally connected outdoor event space.

This outdoor entertainment area has been designed for year-round enjoyment with a monocoque steel canopy featuring ETFE material. A modern theatre and art gallery have been strategically positioned nearby to support the events programme, reiterating the commitment to inject art and culture into the commercial precinct. The development has not ignored its identity within the financial district with the architectural language respecting both functions of the scheme.

The lively designs along the interior spines of the development have been complemented by the formal and clean lines of the street-facing façades, which reference the corporate nature of the district.  Following the vision of the district,

CRL Qianhai Centre promotes a strong integration of public transport and a multi-layered pedestrian-friendly environment as a Transit Oriented Development. Three metro lines, which include Line 1, Line 5, and the future Line 11, are seamlessly integrated into the scheme. Environmentally aware, the development is targeting both LEED and China Green Building 3-Star certifications.

CRL Qianhai Centre has broken ground and is due to complete construction in 2018. The development adds to Benoy’s growing portfolio in the emerging Pearl River Delta economic zone.