As the seventh tallest building in the world and the third-tallest in China, this recently completed tower utilised BIM to reduce time and cost during construction. BIM also played a vital role in optimising its striking, crystal-clear hyperboloid winding glass curtain wall.
At the start of the construction process experts estimated that at least 1,308 pieces of independent asymmetric insulating glass units (IGUs) would be required for its unique curtain wall structure, formed by the intersection of eight irregular curved surfaces. However, after performing BIM analysis and using repeated data modelling, the number of independent IGUs needed for the centre’s curtain wall was reduced to 476, a decrease of over 60%.
This saved resources, costs and transportation risks. The optimisation of end-unit segmentation and joint cladding helped to simplify the construction process and the project was completed four months ahead of schedule.
The tallest building north of the Yangtze River in China, the Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Financial Centre is made up of four basement levels and five podium levels, topped by a 103 storey tower. The centre also includes the K11 shopping mall, the K11 ATELIER office, a five-star hotel and serviced apartments.
The centre has been recognised as one of the most complicated skyscraper designs and structural systems ever designed in China, combining both rigidity and flexibility to counter the effect of winds and seismic activity.
SOM was the design architect for the building and Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP) served as executive architect. The East China Institute of Architectural Design and Research and ARUP also worked on the project.
Project Name: Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Financial Centre
Project location: Binhai District, Tianjin, China
Developer: (New World China) New World China Land Co., Ltd.
Completion: 2019
Building area: 389,980 square meters
Building height: 530 meters
Photographer: New World China, Seth Powers