Construction is well underway on the Wuhan Greenland Center. Claimed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects as the world's third tallest building, the supertall skyscraper is due for completion in 2017 and looks set to become the tallest building in China.
Located in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province in central China, the Wuhan Greenland Center's height has been changed since it was first revealed and will now reach 636 m (2,086 ft), beating China's current tallest building, the Walking Stick, by a significant margin.
The mixed-use skyscraper will now comprise 120 floors and 300,000 sq m (3,229,173 sq ft) of floorspace, split between office and residential space, in addition to a Ritz Carlton Hotel.
When building a supertall tower, wind pressure is one of the key concerns. Handily, design architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill both know a thing or two about building big (Adrian Smith is the architect behind both the Burj Khalifa and the Jeddah Tower), and Wuhan Greenland Center's tapered body and domed top will reduce wind resistance. In addition, a complex system of vents, air intakes and exhaust systems will further reduce air pressure.
Significant sustainable tech is slated for the tower too, with a focus on water conservation. Its exterior will also be clad in both vertical polished stainless steel fins and perforated aluminum shading to shield those inside from the sun.
Source: AS+GG
