Shenyang, China
Global Financial Center is a complex of two towers in Shenyang, the largest city in Northeast China with an urban population of 8,095,000. Tower 1, commonly known as “Pearl of the North.” will rise 568 m. In the early stages of construction in 2018, it became the tallest building in Shenyang, representing the continuing growth of the city.
Resting on a prestigious site to the south of the city’s iconic TV tower, “Pearl of the North” is the centerpiece of a 5.8-hectare masterplan on the “Golden Corridor” of Youth Street, which is in the Central Business District. There is also lots of office space and a culturally-themed lifestyle shopping mall. In the crown at the top of the tower, there is a 50m giant pearl form houses an executive club, which symbolizes a jewel.
For structural performance in a high seismic zone, the tower shaft was developed as a curved plan with corners carved out to further decrease the bulk, instead of a square design. This softens the scale contrast with the surrounding lower residential towers.