Supertall skyscraper to target LEED-Gold cert

A planned new supertall high-tech skyscraper in China promises to break new ground in terms of energy-efficient design.

The 500-metre-tall tower is planned for the South HeXi Yuzui Financial District in Nanjing.

It has been designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), which won an international competition in 2018 to design the new financial district.

The tower, which will use a sculpted design to mitigate the effects of wind, is also expected to be one of the tallest buildings to achieve LEED-Gold certification when completed in 2025.

It will seek to reduce energy consumption through a combination of energy strategies including reducing the cooling load, installation of a high-performance facade, reducing heating loads, reducing lighting loads and reducing plug loads.

In addition, a low-energy insulated curtain wall system has been designed to work with the building’s geometry to efficiently reduce solar heat gain and provide the effective protection to the indoor environment, while maintaining access to natural lighting and controlling glare.

The skyscraper will also collect rainwater in underground tanks where it will be treated and stored for re-use, reducing mains water use by a predicted 55%.

The rainwater will be harvested from sky gardens on top of the tower using sponge city concepts including sub-soil collection, permeable paving and recessed green space.

“The sustainable design of the tower was shaped through a variety of studies and models,” AS+GG Management Partner Robert Forest said.

“Performance is the catalyst for the design of the form, expression and functionality of the buildings. The towers are designed and positioned to take advantage of the winds, the sun and even the rain in Nanjing.”

The South HeXi Yuzui Financial District project also includes a 100-metre office tower, a 155-metre office tower, a 220-metre office tower, a 350-metre office tower and an 86-metre residential tower.

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