Yasheng Pharmaceutical, headquartered in Suzhou, is a state-of-the-art R&D and production complex sprawling over 147,000 square meters. This facility embodies the ambitious vision of the young, Hong Kong-listed pharmaceutical company. Yasheng is proud of its cutting-edge biotechnology research, focusing on developing promising new anti-cancer drugs designed to improve the quality of life for future generations once afflicted with incurable diseases. The park integrates the most advanced digital design and manufacturing technologies, reflecting an international standard of construction excellence.
The new campus is open, bright, and modern. Seven buildings facing the public and employees feature unique smooth, curved forms, elevated above a glass base set on a reflection pool clad in black granite along Xinqing Road. The centerpiece is an 80-meter-high R&D and administrative building, a new landmark for Yasheng Pharmaceutical. Positioned at the busy southwest corner of the site, it sits adjacent to the newly opened subway station on Xinqing Road.
The design inspiration draws from the benzene ring structure, characterized by six carbon and hydrogen atoms connected by planar bonds. Each building’s exterior has been meticulously crafted based on the hexagonal shape of the benzene ring. Through parametric design techniques, this hexagonal form is cleverly folded and connected across seven distinct building volumes. The facades utilize an adaptive BIM family and are digitally fabricated using ultra-high-strength concrete panels combined with anodized aluminum nodes and extrusions. This approach strikes a perfect balance between visual transparency and privacy, resulting in a distinctive architectural style.
The facility combines cutting-edge research laboratories with advanced manufacturing spaces, all bathed in gentle natural light filtered through semi-transparent roofs. These buildings are thoughtfully arranged over a 60,870 square meter site, creating a cohesive campus that embodies Yasheng Pharmaceutical’s promising future.
Project Information
Architect: OLI Architecture
Area: 146,842 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographers: Zonghai Shen, Xiaobin Lv
Lead Architect: Hiroshi Okamoto, AIA, LEED A.P. Design Partner
Design Team: Dongshin Lee R.A., Marcus Colonna AIA, Maher Tarakjian R.A., Hector Arenas, Michael Yin, Sanghoon Seo, Xiaoyu Wang, Alara Akiltopu, Amanda Chin
Local Design Institute: Beijing Qingshui Aipai Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Main Contractor: Nantong Wujian Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Consultant: Shenzhen OEC Facade Technology Co., Ltd
Project Management: QNP
Owner: Guoning Zhang
Location: Suzhou
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