Engineering Tencent Seafront Headquarters

Tencent Corporation, one of the largest Internet and technology companies in China, has recently completed its new headquarters in Shenzhen, comprising two Grade A office towers 190m and 250m high. The design adapts the concept of a suburban campus to a vertical urban setting.

Location

Shenzhen, China

Client

Tencent Corporation

Architect

NBBJ, Tonji Architects Co., Ltd. Shenzhen as LDI

Project Status

Completed in 2017

Applying the Connectivity of a Suburban Campus to a Vertical Urban Setting

The two buildings, connected by three horizontal bridges, echo the company’s networked philosophy and the interconnectivity of the web. This new development offers 354,000 m 2 of office space where an additional 12,000 employees can be accommodated as the company grows.

WSP was responsible for building services engineering from concept design and the review of design works, to coordination during the tender and construction phases. Engi The orientation of the towers and their height allow the prevailing winds to be caught and used as ventilation in the atria. To mitigate the high temperatures in Shenzhen, a curtain wall with a responsive modular shading systems has been integrated in the design of the towers minimising glare and heat gain. In-room temperature is automatically controlled based on the number of people within the room for maximum efficiency. Tencent HQ is aiming to achieve both LEED Gold Rating and perform as a 2-star China Green Building. Employee wellbeing was an important priority for Tencent when creating this new workplace.

The bridges connecting the two towers offer diverse amenities and communal spaces where employees can meet, such as an exhibition hall, a company museum, a games room, dining facilities, a library and a company university. Other facilities that help promote wellbeing include a fitness centre with a swimming pool, a high-rise running path across the towers and a rooftop garden where occupants can relax and enjoy outdoor space. Employees will be welcomed by hologram tours, a way for Tencent to integrate technology in the building.

This project was awarded Best Chinese Futura Megaproject Gold at the MIPIM Asia Awards in 2016.