A soaring addition to the Ningbo skyline

Anchoring the skyline in Ningbo Eastern New City, the Ningbo Bank of China building is a landmark for the city’s financial district. As the regional headquarters of the Bank of China, the 50-story tower consolidates the company’s operations, bringing nearly 8,000 employees from Zhejiang and Ningbo under one roof. Triangular in plan with rounded corners, the tower gradually rotates around a vertical axis to take advantage of three distinct views: the city, the mountains, and the sea.

Merging structure and form

Clad in a curtain of glass, the tower offers soaring, daylit spaces. The building was commissioned by the Ningbo City Planning Department to redefine the typical architecture of the financial sector. It also complements the district master plan, enhancing the public realm and the city’s skyline. From the ground-level podium to the rooftop garden, the tower incorporates comfortable, functional, and flexible spaces designed to meet the Bank of China’s operational and functional needs.

The building uses optimized perimeter columns and a downward draping geometry to create a seamless form. The design reduces structural torque and also minimizes the amount of construction materials needed. A circular, central core provides consistent floor plates. Translucent vertical fins animate the facade and infuse interior spaces with daylight, while mitigating solar gain and glare.

A focal point and viewpoint

Integrated into the adjacent landscaped public plaza and park, the tower serves as a focal point and a gathering place for the neighborhood. The plaza connects the site with the nearby Fenghua River, encouraging foot traffic and creating pathways through the heart of the Financial District. An expansive canopy clad in perforated metal panels wraps around the tower and extends over the plaza to provide shelter from the elements. At the building’s apex, a lattice crowns an open-air observation area that offers uninterrupted views of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and the nearby mountains.