The 359-meter-tall Hanjing International supertall skyscraper, featuring an independent core structure, has been unveiled. The studio describes this remarkable building as an ‘asymmetrical skyscraper.’ Situated in Shenzhen’s Nanshan High-Tech Zone, it consists of two interconnected towers.
The Hanjing Center, designed by Morphosis, is a supertall skyscraper in Shenzhen.
Its steel structural core houses the majority of the building’s elevators and mechanical systems. This core is distinct from the 65-story office space, which Morphosis refers to as a ‘detached core building’ design.
A similar design approach can be seen in London’s Leadenhall Building, also known as the ‘cheese grater,’ by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. It features air flow systems and other services housed in a narrow high-rise behind the wedge-shaped office structure.
In the Hanjing Center, the structural core and the office tower are separated by 10 meters and connected through multiple bridges, creating what Thom Mayne, founding partner of Morphosis and Pritzker Prize-winning architect, describes as a ‘threshold’ space.
“Typically, skyscrapers emphasize form as the primary means to distinguish space,” Mann explained. “However, our focus is on enhancing the living experience within the city. The separation between the transportation core and office spaces creates a threshold that enriches the urban landscape and daily life for the building’s occupants.”
Morphosis’ design separates the structural core from the office tower, creating a form that resonates with the nearby Shenzhen University campus. This strategy also allows for expansive column-free spaces in the glass-clad office building, providing panoramic views of the city.
“When considering the Hanjing Center’s form, we focused on several key concepts,” said Eui Sung Yi, partner at Morphosis. “First, to provide a large, continuous, column-free floor plate with a 270-degree view, achieved through a separate core configuration. Second, to avoid falling into mere sculptural shaping. And third, to respond to the Shenzhen University campus located to the south of the tower.”
This approach resulted in an asymmetrical skyscraper composed of two connected towers: the main frontal volume facing Shenzhen University campus, and the northern core tower. As the steel core rises vertically, the office tower’s form contracts and expands, imparting a dynamic sense of movement to the skyscraper.
This asymmetrical form also generates diverse floor sizes within the building. Driven by structural dynamics, the design achieves stability by tapering the tower from a wider base to a narrower top. It also caters to different tenant needs; for example, some tenants value prestige and require an entire floor despite needing limited workspace,” Yi explained.
The studio aims for the tower to embody the spirit of Shenzhen. The Hanjing Center embraces new possibilities in the design and experience of commercial buildings, reflecting Shenzhen’s entrepreneurial and innovative ethos. This 21st-century city has redefined the benchmark for global urban development,” Yi stated.
Located in Shenzhen’s emerging Nanshan High-Tech Zone, the building’s expressive structure and materials are designed to serve as a rental base for entrepreneurs and leading tech companies.
Photos courtesy of Morphosis Architects.
Technical Drawings
△ Plan view
△ Plan view
△ Plan view
△ Plan view
Project Information
Architect: Morphosis
Associate Architect: Zhubo Design
Interior Architect: Hassell Hong Kong
Structural Concept: John A. Martin & Associates
Structural Engineers: Halvorson and Partners, WSP
MEP/Skin Concept: Stantec
MEP / Fire Protection: Parsons Brinckerhoff
Landscape Designer: SWA Group (Conceptual); Ohtori Consultants (Design)
Lighting: Gradient Lighting Design
Skin: SuP Ingenieure GmbH
Vertical Transportation: Parsons Brinckerhoff
Transportation: MVA Transportation, Planning, and Management Consultant
Ventilation Consultant: RWDI
Tower Consultant: W.ERK Studio
Visualization: Aveson Luxigon
General Contractor: China Construction Fourth Engineering Bureau Corporation
Surface Contractor: Shenzhen Fangda Building Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Steel Contractor: China Construction Steel Structure Corporation
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