Mega structures: Shanghai’s green giant

Ever wondered how some of the world’s most impressive mega structures are built? In this series, we’ll look at what goes in to raising these monsters from the ground and why it’s not just their size that makes them stand out.

At 632m, Shanghai Tower is China’s tallest building and the second tallest in the world behind Dubai’s 828m Burj Khalifa. Its environmentally friendly design makes its height just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this stand-out building, which was awarded a Gold Certificate for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design by the US Green Building Council.

Located at the heart of the city’s financial district, the Shanghai Tower contains 128 stories split into nine separate sections. Each section is designed to be independent, with a mix of retail and office space, hotel rooms and ‘sky gardens’ (one third of the site is green space). Architect firm Gensler describes it as “a city within the city”.

A double skin around the building acts like an insulating blanket and admits maximum sunlight, reducing the need for artificial heating and lighting. 270 wind turbines in the facade of the building power its exterior lighting.

Tackling Typhoons

To ensure the building can withstand the strong winds typical of Shanghai, Gensler incorporated a 120° rotation from top to bottom to minimise wind load. Its asymmetrical form, rounded corners and tapering profile combine to reduce wind loads by 24%. To help counteract sway, a 1,000-tonne mass damper sits near the top of the structure.