A new landmark in the Hangzhou skyline

The Greenland Hangzhou Century Center, now the tallest building in Hangzhou’s skyline, serves as a striking symbolic gateway to this Chinese city near Shanghai. Its twin towers, connected by a skybridge, form the letter “H” for Hangzhou. The flowing glass facade, designed to resemble a veil, drapes the building and mirrors the curves of the Qiantang River.

The connected dual towers, which house offices, a hotel, and residences, mark the entryway to Qianjing Century City, a new nine-square-mile mixed-use district integrating infrastructure specifically designed for the 2023 Asian Games. Reminiscent of traditional Chinese moon gates found in garden landscapes, the arched underbelly of the bridge frames views of the riverfront and marks a pathway for pedestrians along the sloped central axis. Green spaces and public amenities woven throughout the development underscore the district’s civic importance.

Bridging innovation and performance

Developed through an integrated design approach, the building’s bold shape also enhances its environmental performance. The tower’s curving glass enclosure is meticulously designed to meet functional requirements while efficiently managing solar gain and heat conduction. The pedestrian bridge enclosure is engineered for self-shading and features a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), optimizing thermal comfort without compromising sky views or interior quality. Moreover, the bridge doubles as an indoor garden, showcasing a diverse selection of plant species.

At ground level, landscaped surfaces are integrated to retain stormwater, combined with high-albedo surfaces and paved areas. Together, these elements mitigate the urban heat island effect and promote a cooler microclimate around the buildings.

Illuminating an icon

As the centerpiece of the Olympic Village, the building’s presence in the city is reinforced by the integration of over 6,000 LEDs into the glazing system on the internal faces of the towers. The lighting scheme, embedded within the curtain wall along the outer surface of each mullion, follows the building’s contours and extends vertically across the facade. The linear lighting patterns illuminate the building’s profile with a dynamic array of colors, creating a distinctive presence against the night sky.