gmp-designed CSCEC Headquarters in Guangzhou | Model Project for Sustainable High-Rise Construction Completed

With the new headquarters of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) have realized a model project for sustainable building in the Chinese business metropolis of Guangzhou...

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From the architect: The overarching goal of this project was to create an exceptionally energy-efficient and technologically pioneering building that showcases CSCEC’s engineering expertise and serves as a case study for sustainable high-rise construction. A comprehensive analysis of the climatic and local conditions, such as sun exposure and wind impact, conducted during the early planning phase provided the foundation for the design.

The high-rise is located in the Tianhe District of the International Financial City, near the Pearl River. Its volume was developed in accordance with the specifications of the urban master plan. At the ground level, the building is lined with a colonnade that provides public spaces with shelter from the sun and rain. Several floors accommodate publicly accessible functions, including retail stores, service centers, a staff restaurant, multifunctional spaces, and a small CSCEC corporate museum.

Taking into account the conditions of the subtropical climate, the building was largely designed for natural ventilation. Between the base and the tower, an atrium spanning more than eight floors functions as a vertically ventilated space, following the principle of a traditional "cold lane." Shaded outdoor areas at ground level help keep the air cooler, allowing it to flow through the atrium and circulate throughout the building, ensuring a pleasant indoor climate and natural ventilation of the podium. In addition, the high-rise features a natural ventilation system based on the solar chimney principle. Solar heat causes the air in a glass shaft behind the façade to rise, creating a pressure difference that draws in fresh, cooler air to ventilate the building. Furthermore, a night cooling system supports thermal regulation by using the building’s thermal mass to help control temperatures.

A facade with integrated photovoltaic louvers provides shade while contributing to sustainable energy generation. With 7,800 square meters of photovoltaic modules integrated into the façade and roof, the system produces approximately 650,000 kilowatt-hours annually, covering the building’s entire energy needs. These measures significantly reduce energy consumption compared to modern benchmark buildings. Additionally, all operational processes are continuously monitored through an innovative carbon management platform, the first in China to enable real-time forecasting of CO₂ emissions by time, zone, and category.

The structure, supported by twelve external mega-columns, enabled a modular and rapid construction process, achieving a prefabrication rate of nearly 93.5 percent. This optimization reduced material usage and significantly shortened the construction timeline. Eight different manufacturing robots were used, particularly during the shell construction phase, reducing the required labor input by 20 percent.

The building has been awarded China’s “Technical Standard for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings” and “Gold Carbon Neutral Building” certifications, as well as the “3-Star Green Building Label.” It meets the highest standards of construction efficiency and sustainability, having earned LEED Gold and pursuing WELL Platinum.

Architect: gmp Architekten
Client: CSCEC Fourth Engineering Bureau
Location: Guangzhou, China
GFA: 104,402 sqm
Competition: 2022 – 1st prize
Year: 2025
Design: Meinhard von Gerkan and Stephan Schütz with Tobias Keyl
Project Lead: Zhang Xu
Competition Design Team: Rafael Batista, Jan Peter Deml, Du Jian, Filippo Ragusa, Stefano Roggia,  Wu Yuting, Thilo Zehme, Zhou Yuan, Zhu Shiyou, Rui Fan, Zhao Lu
Detailed Design Team: Rafael Batista, Dinah Borjans, Jan-Peter Deml, Du Jian, Li Guangyao, Qian Jin, Filippo Ragusa, Waleed Rezeq, Thilo Zehme, Zhu Shiyou
Project Management, China: Xu Ji, Li Fangxiang
Energy Consultants, Competition: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH
Structural Engineering, Competition: schlaich bergermann partner sbp
Photography: CreatAR Images