Unveiling the Future of Work and Innovation
The recently completed Lujiazui Head Office Project, situated on Plot 10 of Yuqiao Science Park, is a mixed-use complex that encompasses the company’s offices alongside commercial and cultural spaces.
Benoy has translated the ‘green river’ theme from the site plan into an elevated ‘green river’ feature, seamlessly connecting the semi-open public space with four Grade A office buildings, the AI academy, and the commercial showroom.
This design also facilitates the multi-level and multi-dimensional connections to the Metro, sunken plaza, sky bridge, and sky lobby.
Convergence and Integration
Positioned at the core of a global hub in outer Pudong area, the project enjoys proximity to key areas of development.
To the west lies the emerging Expo-Qiantan area, poised to become Shanghai’s newest public space. To the east, Zhangjiang Central is being developed into the core of Zhangjiang Science City.
Additionally, the International Tourist Resort to the southeast is directly linked to the project site via Metro Line 11.
With its focus on science and innovation, the Yuqiao Science Park head office project seamlessly interacts with and enhances the surrounding region’s global hubs of business, science and innovation, and culture.
The project’s proximity to the Metro offers numerous benefits to visitors, the city and the environment, promoting a healthier lifestyle and sustainable development while increasing productivity.
Apart from facilitating access to the Metro and underground spaces, the two sunken plazas within the plot offer cozy and inviting areas through interconnected open public space systems.
Notably, the bridge on the first floor serves as a vibrant public area, infusing vitality into the park, connecting the plots, the office buildings, and the AI academy, and transforming the ‘green river’ into a three-dimensional walkway.
Diversity and Symbiosis
The multi-faceted office design acts as a catalyst for the project’s dynamism, bridging the gap between the interior and exterior.
Consisting of four Grade A office buildings arranged in pairs, each building embraces a central courtyard to foster a tranquil and inviting workplace environment internally, while projecting an open urban image externally.
Towers 1 and 2, strategically located adjacent to the city’s main road and Metro line, feature commercial showrooms on the first two floors overlooking Yuqiao Road, creating an open and vibrant commercial interface within the sightline of pedestrians and vehicles.
Positioned slightly back from the plot’s edge, the towers are set back from the edge of the plot to form a clear and cohesive urban interface. Horizontal lines convey a strong sense of unity between the towers, while partially open and transparent windows create an open and dynamic dialogue with the cityscape.
Towers 3 and 4 adopt an enclosed L‑shaped configuration, creating an intimate inner courtyard space. Together with the upper-level sky lobby, they offer a multi-level, creative public space.
The translucent glass curtain wall, paired with metal framework, elevates the entrance lobby’s distinctive appearance, perfectly aligning with the spatial and visual demands of a corporate headquarters.
Located on the sixth floor, the sky lobby boasts a five-storey-high ceiling, offering a versatile space ideal for product launches, corporate exhibitions, and social gatherings. It also serves as a sun-filled reception area and exhibition platform, flooding the office interior with natural light, spaciousness and scenic vistas.
This vibrant hub injects energy and vitality into the communal space while serving as the park’s gateway to the city, offering a delightful blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation and Sustainability
The project, distinguished by its innovative design and enhanced sustainability features, is intended to be an incubator for technological development and future endeavors, while acting as a nucleus that drives innovation and creativity in the region.
The project is designated as a two-star green development with LEED Gold certification. The horizontal lines of the façade aligns with the building cluster’s horizontal line, reinforcing unity among buildings on the site, enhancing the enclosed ambiance of the ‘green river’ in the courtyard within the building, and simultaneously providing shade for energy efficiency.
The rhythmic façade design draws inspiration from high-tech AI programming code. Shading louvres mimic the movement of codes across the tower façade, creating an ever-changing architectural element as one traverses the site.
Three different angles (0°, 45°, 90°) of louvres are combined to form five units, strategically positioned between the floors to offer overhead shade. They are also designed to be as open as possible at eye level, ensuring privacy indoors.
The AI Academy, located at the intersection of Yuqiao Road and Kang’An Road, gazes towards the city centre with a distinctive blend of individuality and integration.
Serving as the park’s central convention hub, it provides a space for product showcases and academic exchanges across industry sectors and disciplines, embodying the cultural identity of the entire science park.
Its versatile function rooms caters to various needs, accommodating meetings, exhibitions, lectures, banquets, and even transforming into an auditorium or a theatre, offering a plethora of event options for visitors and the surrounding community.
The utilisation of retractable seating maximises space efficiency and enhances the venue’s flexibility and adaptability.
The decorative curtain wall comprises perforated aluminium panels featuring three different perforation patterns.
The façade design is inspired by Morse code, an early form of digitised communication symbolising the inception of modern communication and the bedrock of contemporary information technology.
The transparency of the curtain wall varies to meet specific needs – the lower levels are more transparent, providing a connection to the public area outside, while the transparency decreases higher up to discreetly conceal mechanical and electrical equipment.
Creating Tomorrow’s Urban Epicenter
The Yuqiao Science Park Head Office project is poised to transform into a new city centre – a vibrant science and innovation hub with global significance, offering a rich urban experience that seamlessly integrates work and wellbeing.
Project overview:
Scope of services:
Masterplanning, architecture, interior design
Category:
Mixed-use, workplace, commercial, cultural
Client:
Shanghai Lujiazui (Group) Co., Ltd.
Scale:
Site area: approx. 41,000 m2
total floor area: approx. 181,000 m2
Principle project designer:
Qin Pang
Project head of design:
Yejia Zhu
Project leader:
Li Yawen, Xu Ke
Principle design team:
Wei Liu, Xu Zihao, Ding Hao, Xue Tielong, Zhang Yue
