Winning Design for Tencent’s New Global HQ in China

Büro Ole Scheeren has won an international competition for the design of Tencent’s new global headquarters (HQ) in Shenzhen, China, Arch Daily reports. The new structure, occupying a 14-ha site, will become part of a new urban development along Qianhai Bay. The swirling shape of the Tencent Helix is meant to represent the company’s meteoric growth. Surrounding the dynamic structure, a network of pedestrian pathways connects the headquarters to its urban context. The building will host Tencent’s academy, ample recreational spaces, a health club, a conference center and collaborative offices, along with a lobby area, named the Urban Forum, featuring a mix of restaurants, retail spaces and public amenities to better integrate the structure within the city fabric. Modular prismatic panels cover the façade while allowing daylight to enter the buildings and providing views of the city and bay area. The shape of the four office towers is also adapted to allow for maximum natural daylight and ventilation across all office floors, thus prioritizing passive design principles.