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Global
Height rank
Height rank
Tencent Seafront Tower 1
Shenzhen
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- CTBUH Drawing
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Height
1
To Tip:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element (i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
245.8 m
/ 806 ft
2
Architectural:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized and is employed to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) rankings of the "World's Tallest Buildings."
245.8 m
/ 806 ft
3
Occupied:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest occupied floor within the building.
231.4 m
/ 759 ft
Floors
Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors. Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level 4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
50
Below Ground
The number of floors below ground should include all major floors located below the ground floor level.
4
1
2
3
Height
245.8 m
/ 806 ft
Floors
50
Official Name
The current legal building name.
Tencent Seafront Tower 1
Other Names
Other names the building has commonly been known as, including former names, common informal names,
local names, etc.
Tencent Binhai Building
Name of Complex
A complex is a group of buildings which are designed and built as pieces of a greater development.
Type
CTBUH collects data on two major types of tall structures: 'Buildings' and 'Telecommunications /
Observation Towers.' A 'Building' is a structure where at least 50% of the height is occupied by usable
floor area. A 'Telecommunications / Observation Tower' is a structure where less than 50% of the
structure's height is occupied by usable floor area. Only 'Buildings' are eligible for the CTBUH
'Tallest Buildings' lists.
Building
Status
Completed
Architecturally Topped Out
Structurally Topped Out
Under Construction
Proposed
On Hold
Never Completed
Vision
Competition Entry
Canceled
Proposed Renovation
Under Renovation
Renovated
Under Demolition
Demolished
Completed
Completion
2017
Country
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of Country, and thus
uses the lists and codes established by that organization.
City
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of City, and thus uses the
lists and codes established by that organization.
Address
Function
A single-function tall building is defined as one where 85% or more of its usable floor area is
dedicated to a single usage. Thus a building with 90% office floor area would be said to be an
"office" building, irrespective of other minor functions it may also contain.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CTBUH "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CTBUH "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
Office
Structural Material
All-Steel
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.
Concrete-Steel Composite
Energy Label
LEED GOLD, Green Star 2
Height
Architectural
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to
the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage,
flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized
and is employed to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) rankings of
the "World's Tallest Buildings."
245.8 m / 806 ft
To Tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to
the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element
(i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
245.8 m
/ 806 ft
Occupied
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to
the highest occupied floor within the building.
231.4 m
/ 759 ft
Floors Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main
floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors.
Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than
the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general
roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it
is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level
4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
50
Floors Below Ground
The number of floors below ground should include all major floors located below the ground floor
level.
4
# of Parking Spaces
Number of Parking Spaces refers to the total number of car parking spaces contained within a
particular building.
925
# of Elevators
Number of Elevators refers to the total number of elevator cars (not shafts) contained within a
particular building (including public, private and freight elevators).
77
Top Elevator Speed
Top Elevator Speed refers to the top speed capable of being achieved by an elevator within a
particular building, measured in meters per second.
6 m/s
Rankings
-
By function
You must be a CTBUH Member to view this resource.
-
By material
You must be a CTBUH Member to view this resource.
#
758
Tallest in the World
#
489
Tallest in
Asia
#
63
Tallest in
Shenzhen
Architect
Design
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Structural Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
MEP Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Cost
Façade
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Interiors
Landscape
Traffic
Wind
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Elevator
You must be a CTBUH Member to view this resource.
Owner/Developer
Tencent Technology Company Limited
Architect
Design
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
NBBJ; Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd.; Shenzhen Tongji Architects
Structural Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
AECOM; Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd.; Shenzhen Tongji Architects
MEP Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Shenzhen Tongji Architects; Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd.; WSP Group
Contractor
Main Contractor
The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.
China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Ltd.
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Cost
Façade
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Interiors
Landscape
LEED
Atkins; Atkins
Traffic
Wind
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Aluminium
Guangdong JMA Aluminium Profile Factory (Group) Co., Ltd.
Ceiling
Armstrong Ceiling Solutions
Elevator
CTBUH Awards & Distinctions
Best Tall Building, by Region, Asia & Australasia 2018 Award of Excellence
2018 CTBUH Awards
CTBUH Initiatives
CTBUH Study Examines Tallest Buildings with Dampers
22 August 2018 - CTBUH Research
CTBUH Releases Journal 2018 Issue II
26 April 2018 - CTBUH News
Videos
31 May 2018 | Shenzhen
Linked-Up Thinking Drives the Design of a Tech Company’s Headquarters
The Tencent Seafront Towers were constructed in a special zone of Shenzhen, the Software Industry Base. The project represents a new vision of the workplace,...
Research
01 March 2020
The Future of Workplace in Vertical Cities: Hanging Gardens, Roof Terraces and Vertical Plazas
Stephan C. Reinke, Stephan Reinke Architects
As the workplace evolves in our vertical cities, the need for “think spaces” and the public realm to meet, create and innovate will become integral...
About Tencent Seafront Tower 1
Established as a corporate headquarters, the design process began by adapting the concept of a suburban corporate campus for a vertical urban setting. Rather than the typical process of placing all of the company space is one tower, the plan incorporates two towers connected at three different locations allowing for an easy flow through the work spaces while providing for the accommodations of an additional 12,000 employees anticipated through future growth.
The total space the company was seeking was split into two pieces, with the orientation of the towers maximizing passive energy efficiency in the hot and humid climate of southern China. Through a slight rotation of the towers and staggering of the heights to maximize shading, energy consumption was reduced by 30 percent compared to a typical office tower. In addition to the reduction of solar heat gain and glare, the placement of the towers also maximized use of the prevailing winds to naturally ventilate multiple atriums spread throughout the towers. A modular system of fins covers the façades with an optimal orientation to filter sunlight from each direction. Additional strategies then reduce energy consumption an additional 10 percent.
The company wanted to include a number of public features and employee amenities into their vertical campus and these elements were then placed within the multi-story connections linking the towers, not only improving circulation within the structures, but also serving as meeting places which bring the employees together. The first connection is located at ground level, forming a podium base designed around a cultural theme includes public spaces such as an exposition hall and a company museum beside employee dining facilities. The second connection is a multi-story bridge designed as a health and fitness center while the third and uppermost connection features a bridge with a knowledge theme incorporating meeting rooms along with a company university and library.
The connections between the staggered towers enhance the uniqueness of the design and assists in making this corporate headquarters an easily identifiable feature on the cityscape of western Shenzhen.
CTBUH Awards & Distinctions
Best Tall Building, by Region, Asia & Australasia 2018 Award of Excellence
2018 CTBUH Awards
Videos
31 May 2018 | Shenzhen
Linked-Up Thinking Drives the Design of a Tech Company’s Headquarters
The Tencent Seafront Towers were constructed in a special zone of Shenzhen, the Software Industry Base. The project represents a new vision of the workplace,...
18 October 2016 | Shenzhen
CTBUH Video Interview – Jonathan Ward
Jonathan Ward of NBBJ is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Johnathan discusses the design process behind the Tencent Seafront Towers...
18 October 2016 | Shenzhen
The Impact of Tech Companies in Rethinking the High-Rise Workplace
While tech companies have traditionally located in suburbia due to lower property costs and the perceived security of intellectual property, they are now increasingly investing...
17 October 2016 | Shenzhen
CTBUH Video Interview – Chao (Ivan) Wan
Chao (Ivan) Wan of Tencent Holdings Limited is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Ivan discusses the design process for Tencent...
16 October 2016 | Shenzhen
CTBUH Video Interview – Moira Moser
Moira Moser of M Moser Associates is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Moira discusses the planning of modern work spaces...
26 October 2015 | Shenzhen
How New Generations, Industries and Workplace Paradigms Are Redefining the Commercial High-Rise
This presentation will provide a data-driven analysis of building performance from three eras: the early 1900s, mid-twentieth century, and today. This longitudinal analysis will illustrate...
20 September 2012 | Shenzhen
The Synergy Tower: A New Typology for a Sustainable Future
As the pressures of global urbanization and climate change continue to grow, dense high-rise development is increasingly viewed as a key tool for forging a...
Research
01 March 2020
The Future of Workplace in Vertical Cities: Hanging Gardens, Roof Terraces and Vertical Plazas
Stephan C. Reinke, Stephan Reinke Architects
As the workplace evolves in our vertical cities, the need for “think spaces” and the public realm to meet, create and innovate will become integral...
30 April 2018
Taking the Corporate Campus Vertical
Jonathan Ward, NBBJ; Jiemin Ding, TJAD; Tim Etherington, Gensler
The Tencent Seafront Towers bring a novel concept – the “vertical campus” – to Shenzhen. In housing the corporate headquarters of the fourth-largest internet company...
27 April 2018
Debating Tall: Landscrapers vs. Skyscrapers
Amy Webb, New York University; Julian Chen, Henning Larsen Architects
What does the office of the future look like? The leading tech industry giants all seem to agree the main goal is “connectivity” that forges...
01 March 2018
Designing the High-Rise Building from the Inside/Out
Timothy Johnson & Jonathan Ward, NBBJ
For over 100 years, the tall building has largely advanced in technological innovation; however very little has been done in the terms of understanding the...
17 October 2016
Cities to Megacities: Perspectives
CTBUH 2016 Conference Speakers
The CTBUH 2016 International Conference is being held in the three cities of the Pearl River Delta, the world’s largest “megacity,” projected to have 120...
17 October 2016
Tencent Seafront Tower – A Case Study on Façade Engineering as Functional Patterns
CK Dickson Wong, Hugh Brennand & Vincent Ng
A methodology that façade engineers commonly use to understand and detail a façade element is to break it down into “functional patterns” – principles that...
17 October 2016
Tencent Seafront Tower: Practice on Binding Buildings
Ping Sun, Shenzhen Tongji Architects
This paper compares the differences between a binding building and a link building, defining the concept of a “Binding Building.” It analyzes the architectural and...
17 October 2016
The Impact of Tech Companies in Rethinking the High-Rise Workplace
Jonathan Ward, NBBJ; Chao (Ivan) Wan, Tencent
Tencent, one of the world’s largest internet companies, is creating a high-rise headquarters in Shenzhen, China that overcomes the challenges of the traditional tall building....
CTBUH Initiatives
Filter by
22 August 2018
CTBUH Study Examines Tallest Buildings with Dampers
CTBUH has released a Tall Buildings in Numbers (TBIN) interactive data study on the world's tallest buildings with dampers.
26 April 2018
CTBUH Releases Journal 2018 Issue II
In the latest CTBUH Journal, examine a case study of Tencent Seafront Towers, Shenzhen's "vertical campus", in addition to other great features
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