One of KPF’s most highly recognized and award-winning projects, the Shanghai World Financial Center has stood as a symbol of commerce and culture since its completion in 2008.
A virtual city within a city, the supertall structure houses a mix of office and retail uses, as well as the Park Hyatt Shanghai on the 79th to 93rd floors. Occupying the tower’s uppermost floors, the SWFC Sky Arena offers visitors aerial views of the historic Lujiazui and winding river below and the chance to walk almost 500 meters above the city via the 100th floor Sky Walk.
A square prism, the symbol used by the ancient Chinese to represent the earth, is intersected by two cosmic arcs, representing the heavens, as the tower ascends in gesture to the sky. The interaction between these two realms gives rise to the building’s form, carving a square sky portal at the top of the tower that lends balance to the structure and links the two opposing elements, the heavens and the earth.
In collaboration with the project’s structural engineer, Leslie E. Robertson Associates, the team arrived at an innovative structural solution that abandoned the original concrete frame structure in favor of a diagonal-braced frame with outrigger trusses coupled to the columns of the mega-structure. This enabled the weight of the building to be reduced by more than 10%, consequently reducing the use of materials and resulting in a more transparent structure in visual and conceptual harmony with the tower’s elegant form.
Read about KPF’s commitment to responsible supertall design here.
FAQs
Some 70 floors of the tower are devoted to office space, and a hotel occupies 14 floors above the offices. There are event venues, a media centre, restaurant and shopping areas on the ground floors, and three observation decks—on the 94th, 97th, and 100th floors.
How much does it cost to go to Shanghai World Financial Center? ›
For adults, admission to all three decks costs 180 yuan (about $27); it costs 120 yuan (about $18) for access to the 94th floor. Discounts are offered to children, seniors and students. For more information, consult the Shanghai World Financial Center's website.
Is the Shanghai World Financial Center the tallest building in the world? ›
The Shanghai World Financial Center is a 492 m (1,614 ft) high skyscraper in Shanghai, China. It has 101 storeys and is currently the third tallest building in the world, because Burj Khalifa is the tallest. Inside the building, there are offices, hotels and shopping malls.
Is Shanghai the financial center of China? ›
The numbers tell the story: there are more than 1,500 licenced financial institutions in Shanghai, which account for nearly one third of China's securities and futures institutions. Finally, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) plays an important role in developing the city as an international financial centre.
Which is the main function of the hole in the Shanghai World Financial Center building? ›
The portal also serves a functional purpose, to relieve the enormous wind pressure on the 1,614.2 ft building, located in Pudong, the bustling financial district of Shanghai.
What is Shanghai used for? ›
To shanghai someone is to kidnap or trick them into working for you. The traditional way to shanghai someone is to drug him and put him on a ship. When the person wakes up, he better get to work. This term popped up in the 19th century.
Do I need cash in Shanghai? ›
You can exchange your money at the airport or a bank, or use an ATM to withdraw cash in RMB. When it comes to paying for things, most businesses in China accept either cash or mobile payments. Mobile payments, such as Alipay or WeChat Pay, are widely used by locals.
How many floors are there in Shanghai World Financial Center? ›
Soaring to a height of 492m with 101 above-ground floors,SWFC is the world's tallest mixed-use urban development project.
What businesses are in the Shanghai Tower? ›
Selected business tenants: Shanghai Tower Collection works with many brands to provide every customer with quality service. Some of our tenants are Nio, Bank of China, Starbucks, Arrail Dental, Will's VIP, Shanghai Guan Fu Museum, Jade Garden, Xibei Restaurant, Maison Lameloise, etc.
Who owns Shanghai Tower? ›
Owned by the Shanghai city government, the tower has the world's highest observation deck and the world's fastest elevators that go at 73.8km an hour. The structure is made up of 9 cylindrical buildings stacked on top of each other. A total of 127 floors are encased by the inner layer of the glass façade.
| Shanghai Tower |
|---|
| Floor count | 128 above ground 5 below ground |
| Floor area | 380,000 m2 (4,090,300 sq ft) above grade 170 m2 (1,800 sq ft) below grade |
| Lifts/elevators | 97 (mall included) |
| Design and construction |
24 more rowsBurj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world, standing at a height of 828 meters (2717 feet). It has 163 floors and is truly an engineering marvel. The second-tallest building is the Shanghai Tower, located in Shanghai, China. It stands at a height of 632 meters (2073 feet) and has 128 floors.
Is Shanghai part of Communist China? ›
On 27 May 1949, the People's Liberation Army took control of Shanghai through the Shanghai Campaign. Under the new People's Republic of China (PRC), Shanghai was one of only three municipalities not merged into neighboring provinces (the others being Beijing and Tianjin).
Is Shanghai under Chinese rule? ›
Although under the control of the Consular Council, the area is still Chinese territory, over which China's sovereignty remains unsurrendered".
What is the financial capital of the United States? ›
New York City is not only the financial capital of America but also of the world. While the city's financial dealings grew out of Wall Street, at the southern tip of Manhattan, large financial institutions and companies are now spread out throughout the city.
What purpose does the Shanghai Tower serve? ›
The Shanghai Tower is seen as an architectural statement of China's confidence in its future as one of the world's superpowers. The structure provides living, work and recreation facilities for up to 16,000 people at a time.
What is the purpose of the International Financial Centre? ›
An IFC is a centre operating from a physical location that facilitates international activity and operates under a regulatory framework that meets international norms. IFCs provide financial services to international clients as well as support services such as law, accountancy and technology.
What are the main functions of Shanghai? ›
Shanghai is one of the world's major centers for finance, business and economics, research, science and technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.
