Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China

January 06, 2011 Category: Cultural, Public Buildings

The Pearl River Tower designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill is located in Guangzhou, China. ?The 2.3-million square-foot tower also has the latest sustainable technology and engineering advancements. The design integrates structural systems, in both steel and structural concrete to support the curving shape of the building, as well as the wind and seismic loads imposed on the tower. According to SOM, one structural innovation is integrated wind turbines. These turbines, which are fed from funnel-like openings in the façade, are supported on floor slabs occurring within the opening zones and are laterally braced against the floor above.

While many of these sustainable attributes have been incorporated individually into skyscrapers around the world, the Pearl River Tower design represents the first time that they are used collectively. These sustainable deign and engineering features include solar panels, double-skin curtain wall, chilled ceiling system, under-floor ventilation air, and daylight harvesting.

Pearl River Tower design by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill